Weightless Man: a Survey of Sensations and Performance While Free-floating

The effect of surface-free behavior on work performance in space has been investigated to determine what techniques should be developed to aid the orbital workers. While they performed gross motor activities under weightless conditions, subjects reported their sensory and performance experiences during Keplerian parabolas in a C-131B aircraft in both lighted and dark cabin conditions. Their experiences were categorized into sensation influences upon orientation and body motion influences upon body attitude and position control. Unique examples of short-term weightless behaviors were found and their causes are briefly discussed. Potential applications of these weightless responses to hardware development and to upon body attitude and position control. Unique examples of short-term weightless behaviors were found and their causes are briefly discussed. Potential applications of these weightless responses to hardware development and to crew training and selection are discussed, and significant areas for future research are proposed.