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Related Experiment Videos

Decompression sickness and intravenous bubble formation using a 7.8 psia simulated pressure-suit environment.

G A Dixon, J D Adams, W T Harvey

    Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
    |March 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study found that 7.8 psia spacesuit pressure is insufficient to prevent decompression sickness (DCS) in a 50% oxygen/nitrogen environment during simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs). Further research is needed to determine the minimum safe pressure.

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    Area of Science:

    • Aerospace Medicine
    • Human Physiology
    • Space Exploration Safety

    Background:

    • Decompression sickness (DCS) is a risk during space missions.
    • Understanding minimum spacesuit pressure is crucial for astronaut safety.
    • Previous research has not definitively established safe pressure limits for mixed gas environments.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the minimum spacesuit pressure required to prevent DCS.
    • To evaluate DCS risk in a 50% oxygen/50% nitrogen atmosphere.
    • To assess the impact of exercise during simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs).

    Main Methods:

    • 30 male volunteers participated in 3-day EVA simulations.
    • Exposure to 7.8 psia (5,031 m altitude equivalent) with a 50% O2/50% N2 mix.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Continuous 6-hour exposures with simulated EVA exercise workloads.
  • Precordial Doppler monitoring for intravenous gas bubbles.

    • Main Results:

    • 73.3% of subjects exhibited intravenous bubbling on at least one day.
    • 26.7% of subjects remained bubble-free throughout the study.
    • One case of DCS occurred, indicating 7.8 psia is not sufficient.
    • No correlation found between body fat or age and bubble incidence.

    Conclusions:

    • 7.8 psia in a 50% O2/50% N2 environment is not adequate to prevent DCS during EVA simulations.
    • Astronaut safety requires a higher minimum spacesuit pressure than tested.
    • Further studies are necessary to identify the precise safe pressure threshold.