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A comparison of hand grasp breakaway strengths and bare-handed grip strengths of the astronauts, SML 3 test subjects, and the subjects from the general populationAstronauts have the task of retrieving and deploying satellites and handling massive objects in a around the payload bay. Concerns were raised that manual handling of such massive objects might induce loads to the shuttle suits exceeding the design-certified loads. The Crew and Thermal Division of NASA JSC simulated the satellite handling tasks (Satellite Manload Tests 1 and 3) and determined the maximum possible load that a suited member could impart onto the suit. In addition, the tests revealed that the load to the suit by an astronaut could be calculated from the astronaut's maximum hand grasp breakaway strength. Thus, this study was conducted to document that hand grasp breakaway strengths of the astronauts who were scheduled to perform EVA during the upcoming missions. In addition, this study verified whether the SML 3 test results were sufficient for documenting the maximum possible load. An attempt was made to predict grasp strength from grip strength and hand anthropometry. Based on the results from this study, the SML 3 test results were deemed sufficient to document the maximum possible load on the suit. Finally, prediction of grasp strength from grip strength was not as accurate as expected. Hence, it was recommended that grasp strength be collected from the astronauts in order to obtain accurate load estimation.
Document ID
19930007430
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Rajulu, Sudhakar L.
(Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. Houston, TX., United States)
Klute, Glenn K.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.60:3286
S-690
NASA-TP-3286
Accession Number
93N16619
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-17900
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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