Man-machine analysis of translation and work tasks of Skylab films

Selected film segments were digitized. An efficiency of translation scale was developed, and each of 200 segments of film were rated with regard to the astronauts translation characteristics. Results indicated that in general the astronauts were able to acclimate themselves to the zero g environment quite well. Results also indicated that astronauts tended to translate in 1 g orientations when in the experimental compartment and the wardroom which were architecturally 1 g. However, when the astronauts were in the forward compartment, which was zero g oriented, they began to translate more frequently in a zero g manner. There appeared to be improvements in translation across time. These improvements appeared more so in the forward compartment than in the wardroom or the experimental compartment. Possible changes in the architecture of the wardroom and the experimental compartment were suggested in order to improve translation within these compartments.