Friday's Adventures

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory tour

After our Chamber Flight

Preparing for Chamber Flight

WOW!

Class Begins!

WOW! What an incredible day. Today we met at Rocket Park and took a shuttle to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center building 30 (Where Mission Control is) to begin our SEVEN hours of Physiological Training. Retired military personnel familiarized us with the physiological stresses encountered at decreased barometric pressure and how we can successfully overcome these stresses.

The first hour briefed us on how the layers of atmosphere effect our respiration and circulation. When flying in altitudes below 10,000 ft. our body can adapt well with only minor problems occurring. For our RGO Experience, we will be flying at an altitude between 29,000 and 39,000 feet. So........we need to recognize how our body may react in case of an emergency.

Our next hour discussed symptoms and treatment for hypoxia and hyperventilation. Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the blood, tissues, and cells sufficient to cause an impairment of mental and body functions. The point stressed here was that each person's body will react differently; it is important to recognize and begin treatment immediately.

Trapped gas and decompression sickness was the focus of our third hour. Very entertaining! At the same time, understanding how we can prevent unnecessary discomfort during our ascend and descent will be necessary. Valsalva is an important technique we learned to decrease the build up of pressure in our inner ears during descent. Valsalva is the technical term for tilting your head back, pinching your nose, and blowing out. Yawning and swallowing also helps to open the eustachian tube releasing the expanding gases. The possibility of our teeth exploding on the ascent is one more level of concern. Again, the worst case scenario was explained to us. Belching, passed flatus, and massaging the abdominal area is appropriate treatment for trapped gases in other areas! :)

Our morning came to a close with information on spatial disorientation and motion sickness. Our eyes provide us with 80% of our equilibrium while our vestibular apparatus provides us with 10%. Because of this, any abrupt changes will give us an inability to accurately orient ourselves with respect to the earth's horizon. It is highly suggested that while on our flight, we do NOT look out of the window.

In preparation for the altitude chamber flight, oxygen equipment and emergency procedures were taught. We were trained in how to read the pressure demand regulators and various gauges. We were fitted for our helmets, pressure demand masks (Just like Tom Cruise in Top Gun!), along with oxygen and communication connectors.

The Chamber Flight ended our day! The purpose of this "flight" was for us to experience the reduced barometric pressure changes that occur at an altitude of 25,000 feet. We were to practice the principles and techniques presented in the classroom to make the corrective measures for ourselves. We went in to the same altitude chamber used by NASA astronauts and fighter pilots with all of our equipment. We spent thirty minutes breathing 100% oxygen to denitrogenate our bodies. We then ascended to 25,000 ft. at a rate of 5,000 feet a minute. (Keep in mind that we were stationery.) At 25,000 ft., we removed our masks to experience 5 minutes of hypoxia. We went in expecting the worst! We pictured ourselves grasping for air while in reality the effects were not as dramatic. The symptoms we experienced were totally individualized. Mr. Ahlberg felt lightheaded, Mrs. Lesneski had blurred vision, Mrs. Fortuna had tingling hands, and Mrs. O. felt overheated.

Our day ended with a multiple choice test! Yes, we had to take a test that tied all of these concepts together. Don't worry. We all passed it! :)

This had to be one of our top five experiences that we have ever had! Incredible! Later that evening, we were exhausted. We put our bodies through emotional and physical stress that was well worth it!