Prediction of Planetary Mission Task Performance for Long-Duration Spaceflight

Area of Science:

• Space Physiology
• Exercise Science
• Human Performance

Background:

• Long-duration spaceflight presents unique challenges to astronaut physical performance.
• Assessing aerobic fitness is crucial for predicting mission task success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish aerobic fitness thresholds for critical planetary mission tasks.
• To develop a predictive model using in-flight equipment.

Main Methods:

• 45 participants completed simulated lunar and Martian gravity tasks (surface traverse, hill climb).
• Aerobic fitness assessed via cycling/rowing V˙O2peak, ventilatory threshold (VT), and critical power (CP).
• Logistic regression and ROC analysis identified performance cutoff thresholds.

Main Results:

• Specific V˙O2peak cutoff values were determined for low- and moderate-intensity tasks.
• VT and CP demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in predicting task completion failure.
• Identified thresholds below which task performance was impaired.

Conclusions:

• Aerobic fitness parameters, including V˙O2peak, VT, and CP, can predict mission task performance.
• These findings support the development of in-flight testing for astronaut readiness.
• Establishing these thresholds is vital for long-duration space mission safety and success.