Due
to the limited number of opportunities to collect physiological
data from astronauts during spaceflight and the limited
size of the astronaut cohort, knowledge of space normal
physiology and a detailed understanding of the effects
of countermeasures in reduced gravity will not be available
from clinical data alone. Furthermore, mission scenarios
frequently ask physiology and health questions that must
be answered quickly and with limited clinical data.
The goal of the Digital Astronaut Project is four fold.
First goal is to develop the computational tools to
quantify space normal physiology. The second goal is
to assist Human Research (HRP) discipline researchers
in eliminating knowledge gaps. The third goal is to
provide input to HRP research investment decisions.
The fourth goal is to provide timely input to mission
architecture and operations decisions in areas where
clinical data are lacking.
The Project will consist of an integrated simulation,
known as the backbone, augmented as required by more
detailed simulations. The need for more detailed simulations
will be identified through the validation and verification
processes of the components simulating various physiological
systems. The backbone will be an adapted form of the
BioSim physiological simulation that is available from
the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC).
Project personnel will reside both at UMMC and Glenn
Research Center (GRC).
|
