Lunar Gravity Simulation and its Effect on Human Performance

In: Human factors: the journal of the Human Factors Society, Volume 10, Issue 4, p. 393-402

Abstract

Project Apollo has stimulated extensive research on human performance using a variety of lunar gravity simulators. Based on a survey of the literature, the following conclusions have emerged: (a) Existing simulators do not represent a high fidelity simulation of 1/6 g, (b) A validation study of the various simulators is needed, (c) Man will be capable of self-locomotion in lunar gravity, (d) Man's metabolic rate will be lower in 1/6 g during self-locomotion, (e) Man will change his method of performing common Earth tasks when in 1/6 g, (f) Psychomotor task decrement in 1/6 g will be observed, (g) Future research should direct itself toward a higher fidelity simulation of the total lunar ecology for study of mission-specific tasks.