Measuring Astronaut Performance in Microgravity: Loads and Modeling

Quantitative analysis of human performance in microgravity is important for both scientific investigations and spacecraft engineering design. By collecting and evaluating the kinematics and kinetics data of astronauts in space, it becomes possible to characterize human motor strategies, postural behavior in weightlessness, improve the design of orbital modules, help maintain a quiescent microgravity for acceleration-sensitive material science and life science experiments (NASA JSC, 1996), and optimize the human operative capabilities during long-duration space missions. Hence, there is a need for a precise measurement of the forces and moments exerted by the astronauts on the space station and their postures and movements.