Don't Get Sore ...

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In article <406252B0.229E52CB.DeleteThis@alcyone.com>,
Erik Max Francis <max.DeleteThis@alcyone.com> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
  >>wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
  >>for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
 >
 >The test mission was already performed. Look up _Gemini VII_.
 >
 >--
 > __ Erik Max Francis

The difference between any of the Gemini missions (which
took days) and a human journey to Mars (which will take many
tens of days in each direction) is the difference between a
one hundred yard dash and a marathon run. I know no
precedent to spending _many_ tens of days _continuously_
reclining in a pressure suit.

The United States Government knows about physical conditioning,
but how do you toughen up somebody's _skin_ to survive an
enclosed, sweaty (ever had a nervous sweat?) increasingly grimy
environment? A papercut can make keyboard work awkward, and
bedsores potentially range from minor rashes to ulcerating
infections. Ulcerating infections are painful -- in addition,
infections raise the possibility of blood poisoning with
attendent mental acuity deterioration -- no laughing matter on a
journey to Mars.

Anybody who watches T V knows that hospitals routinely use
intervenous feeding of pharmacuticals, of electrolytes and
of nourishment. An intervenous feed creates no solid waste --
no bedpan problems. Orally administered liquid nourishment
(e.g., protein shakes) might offer similar advantages during
long space journeys, but bowel movement is necessary both
to maintain bowel function and for microbic safety. [I.e., the
lower interstine extracts water from solid waste. Eliminate
the solid waste or the solid waste eventually turns rock hard,
and I don't want to think about longterm constipation during
a human journey to Mars. I.e., food (even cooked food) contains
_some_ living bacteria, and you don't want that bacteria growing,
evolving and becoming toxic while sitting in your lower intestine
like in a petri dish]. On a journey to Mars taking many tens of
days in each direction, some solid food (and solid waste
elimination) is MANDATORY -- Tang(TM) won't solve the problem,
and pureed food (e.g., baby food) eventually must be eliminated
from the body.

BTW, these lower intestine considerations raise questions about
the practicality of astronauts 'sleeping' through long journeys
in outer space, a popular problem solution in science fiction.

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00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
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On 25 Mar 2004 03:12:21 GMT, rball84213 RemoveThis @aol.com (Richard Ballard)
wrote:

 >[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]
 >
-- snip --
 >
 >A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
 >each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
 >astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits. I know that
 >hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to ensure that
 >bedridden patients do not develop bedsores (which can range
 >from minor irritations to ulcerating infections).
 >
 >Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
 >wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
 >for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
 >

I must admit, I don't get this post. I don't know of any Mars mission
profile that expects its astronauts to be suited for the duration of
the trip - the more so as most of the studies look at a round-trip of
as much as three years, with the stop-off at Mars in the middle.

Have you seen other studies which do make this assumption?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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Richard Ballard wrote:
 > [RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]
 >
<snip>
 > A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
 > each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
 > astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits.
<snip>

I believe this to be a false assumption.


TBerk<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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In article <hmk560hd92q5m3tkr3kp06eutv1036qe9n.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>,
Steerpike <steerpike-100.TakeThisOut@nospam.freeuk.com> writes:

 >On 25 Mar 2004 03:12:21 GMT,
 >rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) wrote:
 >
  >>[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]
  >>
 >-- snip --
  >>
  >>A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
  >>each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
  >>astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits. I know that
  >>hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to ensure that
  >>bedridden patients do not develop bedsores (which can range
  >>from minor irritations to ulcerating infections).
  >>
  >>Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
  >>wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
  >>for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
 >
 >I must admit, I don't get this post. I don't know of any Mars mission
 >profile that expects its astronauts to be suited for the duration of
 >the trip - the more so as most of the studies look at a round-trip of
 >as much as three years, with the stop-off at Mars in the middle.
 >
 >Have you seen other studies which do make this assumption?

My assumption is that the capsules used to carry humans to Mars
will be (relatively) small and will be packed with consumable
cargo [food and a source of breathing air (perhaps fresh water
that can be drank and also hydrolyzed)]. As a result there will
be minimum space for humans, dictating an acceleration couched
pressure suited environment. IMO you can not risk an accident
in a shirtsleeved environment on a journey to Mars.

The best environmental analogy I can draw is belowdeck
(no risky enroute spacewalks) on one of the old oceangoing
wooden sailing ships. Nutrition (e.g., rickets) was a definite
problem for sailors. Discipline during a long voyage also was
a problem -- there is a reason that old time unshaven buccaneers
are stereotypically depicted as wearing a brass earring.

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If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Don't Get Sore ... 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > The difference between any of the Gemini missions (which
 > took days) and a human journey to Mars (which will take many
 > tens of days in each direction) is the difference between a
 > one hundred yard dash and a marathon run.

_Gemini VII_ was 14 days in orbit.

 > The United States Government knows about physical conditioning,
 > but how do you toughen up somebody's _skin_ to survive an
 > enclosed, sweaty (ever had a nervous sweat?) increasingly grimy
 > environment?

What do you think the problem is? Humans spent the vast majority of
their history with wholly inadequate hygiene. Primitive humans went for
enormously long periods without washing; usually the only washing that
happened was accidentally stepping in (usually unclean) water. The only
serious danger her is offending others and small cuts getting
infectious, which isn't a problem when you have access to modern medical
technology such as antibiotics.

 > A papercut can make keyboard work awkward, and
 > bedsores potentially range from minor rashes to ulcerating
 > infections. Ulcerating infections are painful -- in addition,
 > infections raise the possibility of blood poisoning with
 > attendent mental acuity deterioration -- no laughing matter on a
 > journey to Mars.

How do you propose the astronauts are going to get bed sores while
they're in _microgravity_? Do you know what bed sores are?

--
__ Erik Max Francis && max.TakeThisOut@alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</a>
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-- (a Bemba proverb)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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In article <20040325085346.05305.00000017 RemoveThis @mb-m05.aol.com>,
rball84213 RemoveThis @aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:

 >In article <hmk560hd92q5m3tkr3kp06eutv1036qe9n RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
 >Steerpike <steerpike-100 RemoveThis @nospam.freeuk.com> writes:
 >
  >>On 25 Mar 2004 03:12:21 GMT,
  >>rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) wrote:

<snip>

   >>>A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
   >>>each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
   >>>astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits. I know that
   >>>hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to ensure that
   >>>bedridden patients do not develop bedsores (which can range
   >>>from minor irritations to ulcerating infections).
   >>>
   >>>Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
   >>>wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
   >>>for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
  >>
  >>I must admit, I don't get this post. I don't know of any Mars
  >>mission
  >>profile that expects its astronauts to be suited for the duration of
  >>the trip - the more so as most of the studies look at a round-trip
  >>of
  >>as much as three years, with the stop-off at Mars in the middle.
  >>
  >>Have you seen other studies which do make this assumption?
 >
 >My assumption is that the capsules used to carry humans to Mars
 >will be (relatively) small and will be packed with consumable
 >cargo [food and a source of breathing air (perhaps fresh water
 >that can be drank and also hydrolyzed)]. As a result there will
 >be minimum space for humans, dictating an acceleration couched
 >pressure suited environment. IMO you can not risk an accident
 >in a shirtsleeved environment on a journey to Mars.
 >
 >The best environmental analogy I can draw is belowdeck
 >(no risky enroute spacewalks) on one of the old oceangoing
 >wooden sailing ships. Nutrition (e.g., rickets) was a definite
 >problem for sailors. Discipline during a long voyage also was
 >a problem -- there is a reason that old time unshaven buccaneers
 >are stereotypically depicted as wearing a brass earring.

A linguistic comment: My old dictionary talks around the issue by
referring the reader to an arcane reference text, but my old
dictionary defines the origin of the term 'Yankee' as "a disparaging
nickname for a Hollander, later for Dutch freebooter", and defines a
'freebooter' as "a plunderer; pirate; buccaneer".

I suppose if a sailor lacked discipline and was straying from
the intended course, a Yankee Captain could give the sailor's
brass earring a yank and reset the sailor back onto the
intended disciplined course.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Don't Get Sore ... 

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In article <20040325092732.18733.00000017.RemoveThis@mb-m03.aol.com>,
rball84213.RemoveThis@aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:

 >In article <20040325085346.05305.00000017.RemoveThis@mb-m05.aol.com>,
 >rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:
 >
  >>In article <hmk560hd92q5m3tkr3kp06eutv1036qe9n.RemoveThis@4ax.com>,
  >>Steerpike <steerpike-100.RemoveThis@nospam.freeuk.com> writes:
  >>
   >>>On 25 Mar 2004 03:12:21 GMT,
   >>>rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) wrote:

<snip>

   >>>>A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
   >>>>each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
   >>>>astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits. I know that
   >>>>hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to ensure that
   >>>>bedridden patients do not develop bedsores (which can range
   >>>>from minor irritations to ulcerating infections).
   >>>>
   >>>>Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
   >>>>wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
   >>>>for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
   >>>
   >>>I must admit, I don't get this post. I don't know of any Mars
   >>>mission profile that expects its astronauts to be suited for
   >>>the duration of the trip - the more so as most of the studies
   >>>look at a round-trip of as much as three years, with the
   >>>stop-off at Mars in the middle.
   >>>
   >>>Have you seen other studies which do make this assumption?
  >>
  >>My assumption is that the capsules used to carry humans to Mars
  >>will be (relatively) small and will be packed with consumable
  >>cargo [food and a source of breathing air (perhaps fresh water
  >>that can be drank and also hydrolyzed)]. As a result there will
  >>be minimum space for humans, dictating an acceleration couched
  >>pressure suited environment. IMO you can not risk an accident
  >>in a shirtsleeved environment on a journey to Mars.

Based upon the Soviet experience, I am assuming a mission to
Mars would _not_ use high percentage oxygen breathing environment.
I am not a chemist, but offhand I know no compact inert material
that can be used to _cleanly_ generate nitrogen gas or
carbon dioxide gas.

  >>The best environmental analogy I can draw is belowdeck
  >>(no risky enroute spacewalks) on one of the old oceangoing
  >>wooden sailing ships. Nutrition (e.g., rickets) was a definite
  >>problem for sailors. Discipline during a long voyage also was
  >>a problem -- there is a reason that old time unshaven buccaneers
  >>are stereotypically depicted as wearing a brass earring.
 >
 >A linguistic comment: My old dictionary talks around the issue by
 >referring the reader to an arcane reference text, but my old
 >dictionary defines the origin of the term 'Yankee' as "a disparaging
 >nickname for a Hollander, later for Dutch freebooter", and defines a
 >'freebooter' as "a plunderer; pirate; buccaneer".
 >
 >I suppose if a sailor lacked discipline and was straying from
 >the intended course, a Yankee Captain could give the sailor's
 >brass earring a yank and reset the sailor back onto the
 >intended disciplined course.

Thinking back to the original Apollo era missions I remembered
another concern -- human muscular atrophy.

When humans live in a near zero gravity environment for a long
time period, their muscles lose strength from not being used.
This includes leg, arm and heart muscles -- your heart hardly
works to pump blood in a near zero gravity environment. I have
not followed this phenomenon recently, but the early astronauts
who made duration breaking orbital voyages did experience some
muscular atrophy.

Convalescing patients in physical rehabilitation clinics sometimes
exercise against elastic bands (big rubber bands). I do not know
if this is adequate sustaining exercise on a long space voyage.

Admittedly Mars has less gravity than Earth, but Mars has more
gravity than the Moon. Astronauts with muscular atrophy arriving
on the Martian surface might have difficulty performing their
assignments, and if there are medical problems it's a long ride to
the physician's office.

And when it is time to return to Earth, liftoff from the Martian
surface tasks the heart muscle.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Don't Get Sore ... 

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In article <c3tkmf$2bdg8m$1@ID-79033.news.uni-berlin.de>,
"Ernest Fairchild" <ernestf RemoveThis @delphidude.com> writes:

 >"Richard Ballard" <rball84213 RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote in message
 > news:20040324221220.08988.00000016@mb-m02.aol.com...
 >
  >>[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]
  >>
  >>The Space Shuttle is (and Skylab was) spacious enough that
  >>astronauts could get up and walk around. The spaciousness
  >>made sanitary functions easier.
  >>
  >>The Apollo trips to the moon utilized (relatively) small capsules
  >>where the astronauts reclined in pressure suits. There was
  >>little room to move around. I believe the books "The Right Stuff"
  >>and "Apollo 13" contain some discussion about the male
  >>astronauts sanitary concerns while in pressure suits. The
  >>journey to the moon does not take tens of days in each direction.
  >>
  >>A human journey to Mars will be of relatively long duration in
  >>each direction, and I assume the use of small capsules with
  >>astronauts continuously reclining in pressure suits. I know that
  >>hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to ensure that
  >>bedridden patients do not develop bedsores (which can range
  >>from minor irritations to ulcerating infections).
  >>
  >>Has anybody discussed how an astronaut forced to continually
  >>wear a pressure suit and recline within a small space capsule
  >>for tens of days will avoid developing bedsores?
 >
 >First off, with modern rockets, a trip to Mars is measured not
 >in "tens of days" but in "months," so I assume that they will
 >get more commodious accomodations during the trip.

As I mentioned in an earlier message, IMO the majority of capsule
volume on a Mars mission capsule will be occupied with storage of
consumables -- food, drinking water, and breathing air sources.

 >Either we deliver a vastly faster propulsion method, or we need
 >to give them some bloody room to stretch, I think.

IMO, 'a vastly faster propulsion method' has two problems.
High acceleration from a higher powered rocket motor causes
medical problems in a muscular atrophied situation (discussed
earlier). Velocity also can be achieved by a longer burn on a
smaller rocket motor, but any velocity requires deceleration
when nearing destination.

Either way, you burn fuel accelerating and decelerating, and
fuel consumption increases both with increased ac/deceleration
and also with increased mass. Increased fuel consumption creates
a fuel storage problem. I do not foresee much room to stretch.

The current Mars Rovers were not designed to return to Earth.
The current Mars Rovers had a somewhat rough engineered landing
on the Martian surface. A Mars mission carrying astronauts on
a round trip journey probably would require some landing adjustments
at the Martian stage of the journey. If necessary, capsule
Earth atmospheric reentry at journey's completion might be avoided
by retrieving the astronauts and their cargo from their
Earth orbiting capsule -- no splashdown.

The bottom line is that a space mission carrying astronauts
operates in a environment of constrained resources -- only so
much carrying capacity for astronauts, food, air and fuel on a
round trip journey. Astronauts are superbly conditioned, but
the human body has limitations.

"All Rights Reserved"?
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Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
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 >> Stay informed about: Don't Get Sore ... 

On 3/25/2004 8:53 AM Richard Ballard cranked up the brainbox and said:
 > My assumption is that the capsules used to carry humans to Mars
 > will be (relatively) small

And this assumption is your undoing. Check out some of the research concept
illustrations.

--
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RE: Your assumptions seem faulty. Nothing personal but they seem to pick
the pessimistic point and expand on it.

Why would 'I' (the editorial I) design and build a cramped quarters
based space going vessel when the journey would take (at least) a year
each way?

I'm going to send them in something no smaller interior wise that the
space shuttle's cargo bay.

Keep in mind it's unlikely the constraints of a moon shot where we had
to contend with climbing out of the Earth's gravity well were a large
consideration for the smallness of the capsules used.

In the case of a mission to Mars it's unlikely the whole thing will be
thrown in one fell swoop right from a launch pad on Earth, rather that
the space vessel might well be assembled in sections, in orbit, and sent
on it's way in a larger form factor than we've seen up to this point.

Why is it very likely they are going to be suited the whole way? They
aren't suited full time in examples like SpaceLab or the Russian
equivalent.

I fact, the back of my brain where a lot of subconscious intuition
resides informs me there is a likely 'sweet spot' where larger is better
in a mission like this. Up to a point I'd foresee bigger being better
enhancing a number of scenarios:

- Provides more room to make things like sustainable hydroponics or an
even better solution possible.

- Provides for a less critical biosphere to live in, more tolerant of
changes, more 'absorbital' to coin a word or toxins and mishaps.

- Allows a more likelihood that something like two counter rotating hubs
or rings could be used both as a navigational device as well as a
'closer to One Gee' environment. In the near weightlessness of outer
space magnetic bearings would seem a good answer to the friction you'd
want to avoid in such an application.


I suppose I'd nutshell this with the following. If it's possible to send
a human to Mars in a space suit then make the suit as big inside as a
room or a house and send them.

TBerk
available as a consultant to brainstorm almost anything. NASA? Are you
listening? 8])
 >> Stay informed about: Don't Get Sore ... 

TBerk wrote:

<snip>

 > - Allows a more likelihood that something like two counter rotating hubs
 > or rings could be used both as a navigational device as well as a
 > 'closer to One Gee' environment. In the near weightlessness of outer
 > space magnetic bearings would seem a good answer to the friction you'd
 > want to avoid in such an application.

Another option is something like Bob Forward thought about -- a spinning
'bolus' with the cabin on one end and a weight (say, powered-down engines
+ fuel + unwanted AOL CDs) on the other. Initially, the 2 parts would be
joined, but after injection, you partially spin-up and winch the sections
apart and then coast the main part of the journey, spinning all the while
like a... well, like a spinning thing. (Makes the in-flight nav a bit
awkward, I should imagine. <g>) At Mars orbit, the bolus can also be used
to slow the landing capsule down closer to approach speeds.

I imagine that it's also a good conservation of energy approach in that
the energy you use to spin up and maintain an 'artificial' gravity is held
until it's needed to be released for slowing you down for landing.

It's been a while since I looked at it, but do a Google on 'tethers' and
'Robert Forward' (and maybe 'Mars') and it should turn up some neat ideas.

Needless to say, the living capsule need not be small.

--
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In article <4063560B.ACB21D5A.DeleteThis@alcyone.com>,
Erik Max Francis <max.DeleteThis@alcyone.com> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>The difference between any of the Gemini missions (which
  >>took days) and a human journey to Mars (which will take many
  >>tens of days in each direction) is the difference between a
  >>one hundred yard dash and a marathon run.
 >
 >_Gemini VII_ was 14 days in orbit.

Another respondent pointed out that given current rocket motors,
a journey to Mars would take months each way. Rocket motors
with greater thrust stress the human body harder and burn fuel
faster.

  >>The United States Government knows about physical conditioning,
  >>but how do you toughen up somebody's _skin_ to survive an
  >>enclosed, sweaty (ever had a nervous sweat?) increasingly grimy
  >>environment?
 >
 >What do you think the problem is? Humans spent the vast majority of
 >their history with wholly inadequate hygiene. Primitive humans
 >went for
 >enormously long periods without washing; usually the only washing
 >that
 >happened was accidentally stepping in (usually unclean) water. The
 >only
 >serious danger her is offending others and small cuts getting
 >infectious, which isn't a problem when you have access to modern
 >medical
 >technology such as antibiotics.

Starting a rash/abrasion is easy. I don't wish to be rude,
but have you ever experienced chafing from underwear elastic?
And being continually suited up with no chance for washing
or for rinsing off sweat (organic salts are irritants) and
surface dirt (epidermal flaking) makes skin grimy and prone
to nuture infectious surface bacteria.

It is better to stay healthy than to require antibiotics.
I am _not_ qualified to provide medical opinions, but my
personal experience is that infection treated with
antibiotics sometimes reduces mental acuity -- bad for
any astronaut. And infected abrasions, etc. swell and hurt --
another mental distraction that antibiotics do not
address directly.

In his science fiction novel "Stand On Zanzibar", John Brunner
commented about an Egyptian worker viewing the nearly
completed Pyramids. The worker was more interested in his
empty stomach and the irritating blister on his heel than the
grandeur of the Pyramids.

  >>A papercut can make keyboard work awkward, and
  >>bedsores potentially range from minor rashes to ulcerating
  >>infections. Ulcerating infections are painful -- in addition,
  >>infections raise the possibility of blood poisoning with
  >>attendent mental acuity deterioration -- no laughing matter on a
  >>journey to Mars.
 >
 >How do you propose the astronauts are going to get bed sores while
 >they're in _microgravity_? Do you know what bed sores are?
 >
 >--
 > __ Erik Max Francis

When traveling in Mediterranian climates I use baby powder --
a precaution I do not take when at home.

On a summer crosscountry summer cycling trip across my
state, my helmeted head and scalp sweat continuously. I
repeatedly used my water bottle to wash the encrusted salt
from my face, but enough salt gathered at the outside corners
of my eyes to pickle the skin and cause it to crack open over
several days' ride. The solution was increased washing
and treating the skin with a moisturizer to keep it soft and
pliable so that it would crack no further. It healed.

I was wearing Lycra Spandex(TM) cycling shorts specially designed
to have no irritating seams -- no pelvic abrasions. And I showered
carefully and thoroughly every night, and changed clothing faithfully.

You can argue that a summertime cycling environment has
greater physical stress than a climate controlled space capsule
with pressure suits. I'd reply I was happy to shower and change
clothing _daily_ before supper.

Nobody complains about soap and water, and soap apparently
has antibacterial properties.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
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Richard Ballard wrote:

 > Another respondent pointed out that given current rocket motors,
 > a journey to Mars would take months each way. Rocket motors
 > with greater thrust stress the human body harder and burn fuel
 > faster.

None of the motors proposed in Mars missions have significant thrust,
certainly not for extended periods.

 > Starting a rash/abrasion is easy. I don't wish to be rude,
 > but have you ever experienced chafing from underwear elastic?

That's not what a bed sore is. Bed sores are caused because of
prolonged pressure between a certain part of the body and the surface
it's resting against, and in long-duration spaceflight there simply will
not be any such pressure, whether the capsule is cramped or not, and the
current designs will not have nearly cramped capsules as you seem to
think.

And there _are_ causes of long-duration spaceflight -- people have been
in space stations for months on end with no similar effects. _Mir_ and
similar stations are at least as cramped, if not more, as proposed Mars
mission spacecraft.

--
__ Erik Max Francis && max.TakeThisOut@alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</a>
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