10.0 BIOMEDICAL EVALUATION

This section is a summary of the Apollo 14 medical findings based on a preliminary analysis of the biomedical data. A comprehensive evaluation will be published in a separate report. The three crewmen accumulated a total of 650 man-hours of space flight experience.

The crewmen remained in excellent health throughout the mission and their performance was excellent despite an alteration of their normal work/rest cycle. All physiological parameters obtained from the crew remained within the expected ranges during the flight. No adverse effects which could be attributed to the lunar surface exposure have been observed.

10.1 BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA

Problems with the Commander's biomedical instrumentation harness began prior to lift-off when the sternal electrocardiogram signal became unreadable 3 minutes after spacecraft ingress. A waiver was made to the launch mission rule requiring a readable electrocardiogram on all crewmen. During the first orbit, the Commander's sternal electrocardiogram signal returned to normal.

At about 57 1/2 hours, the Commander noted that his lower sternal sensor had leaked electrode paste around the sealing tape. This situation was corrected by applying fresh electrode paste and tape.

When the Commander transferred to the portable life support system in preparation for the extravehicular activity, his electrocardiogram was so noisy on two occasions that the cardiotachometer outputs in the Mission Control Center were unusable and manual counting of the heart rate for metabolic rate assessment became necessary. A good electrocardiogram signal on the Commander was reacquired after completion of the extravehicular activity and return to the lunar module. The threads on the top connector of the signal conditioner were accidentally stripped. However, the electrocardiogram signal was restored for the remainder of the flight by tightening this connector.

The quality of the Lunar Module Pilot's electrocardiogram was excellent from spacecraft ingress until approximately three days into the mission. At that time, intermittent noise transmissions typical of a loose sensor were received. The lower sternal sensor was reserviced with fresh paste and tape. This happened two additional times. No attempt was made to correct the situation on the last occurrence.

The Lunar Module Pilot also lost his impedance pneumogram after the eighth day of flight. Postflight examination showed that the signal conditioner had failed.

Physiological measurements were within expected ranges throughout the mission. The average crew heart rates for work and sleep in the command module and lunax module are listed in the following table.

Activity Average heart rates, beats/min
Commander Command Module
Pilot
Lunar Module
Pilot
Command module:

Work
Sleep


57
52


66
46


62
50
Lunar module:

Work
Sleep


77
70


-
-


76
-


Figure 10-1 presents the crew heart rates after translunar injection during the multiple unsuccessful docking attempts and the final hard dock.

Figure 10-1.-Crew heart rates during multiple docking attempts


During powered descent and ascent, the Commander's heart-rate averages ranged from 60 to 107 beats per minute during descent and from 69 to 83 beats per minute during ascent, as shown in figures 10-2 and 10-3, respectively. These heart-rate averages for descent and ascent were the lowest observed on a lunar landing mission.

Figure 10-2.-Heart rate of the Commander during lunar descent

Figure 10-3.-Heart rate of the Commander during lunar ascent


Heart rates during the two extravehicular activity periods are shown in figures 10-4 and 10-5. The Commander's average heart rates were 81 and 99 beats per minute for the first and second periods, respectively; and the Lunar Module Pilot's average heart rates were 91 and 95 beats per minute.

Figure 10-4a.-Commander's heart rate during the first extravehicular activity

Figure 10-4b.-Lunar Module Pilot's heart rate during the first extravehicular activity

Figure 10-5a.-Commander's heart rate during the second extravehicular activity

Figure 10-5b.-Lunar Module Pilot's heart rate during the second extravehicular activity


The metabolic rates and the accumulated metabolic production of each crewman during the extravehicular activity periods are presented in tables 10-I and 10-II. A summary of the metabolic production during the two extravehicular periods is presented in the following table.

Table 10-I Metabolic Assessment of the First Extravehicular Period

Surface activity Start time,
hr:min
Duration,
min
Average
metabolic rate,
Btu/hr
Metabolic
production,
Btu
Cumulative metabolic
production, Btu
Commander
Cabin depressurization 113:39 8 (a) (a) (a)
Egress 113:47 4 712 47 47
Environmental familiarization, modular equipment transporter (MET)
unloading, and television deployment
113:51 21 1201 420 467
S-band antenna deployment 114:12 10 1052 175 642
Transferal of expendables 114:22 19 717 227 869
U.S. flag deployment and photography 114:41 6 726 73 942
Lunar module and site inspection 114:47 18 587 176 1118
TV transfer to scientific equipment bay 115:05 3 868 43 1161
Experiment package offloading 115:08 13 690 149 1310
unknown activity 115:21 1 651 11 1321
Television positioning 115:22 3 840 42 1363
MET loading 115:25 15 733 183 1546
Unknown activity 115:40 6 581 58 1604
Traverse to experiment package deployment site 115:46 15 984 246 1850
Unknown activity 116:01 3 677 34 1884
Experiment package system interconnect, passive seismic off-loading, laser ranging retro-reflector deployment 116:04 26 794 344 2228
Charged particle lunar environment experiment deployment 116:30 5 496 41 2269
Deployment of experiment package antenna, passive seismic experiment, and laser ranging retro-reflector; and sample
collection
116:35 63 517 543 2812
Return traverse 117:38 16 1273 339 3151
Unknovn activity 117:54 6 1735 174 3325
Sample collection 118:00 3 1165 58 3383
EVA closeout 118:03 16 1029 274 3657
Ingress 118:19 4 1098 73 3730
Cabin repressurization 118:23 4 793 53 3783
Total 4:48 288 800
(average)
3783 (b) 3783 (b)
Lunar Module Pilot
Cabin depressurization 113:39 8 (a) (a) (a)
Pre-egress operations 113:47 8 711 95 95
Egress 113:55 2 1582 53 148
Environmental familiarization, contingency sample collection 113:57 15 901 225 373
Deployment of solar wind composition experiment 114:12 2 1045 35 408
Laser ranging retro-reflector unloading 114:14 9 1061 159 567
Ingress 114:23 2 1265 42 609
S-band antenna switching 114:25 12 1195 239 848
Egress 114:37 2 889 30 878
Camara setup 114:39 4 883 59 937
U.S. flag deployment and photography 114:43 4 948 63 1000
Traverse to television 114:47 3 747 37 1037
Television panorama 114:50 10 620 103 1140
MET deployment 115:00 8 746 99 1239
Experiment package offloading 115:08 38 1038 657 1896
Traverse to experiment package deployment site 115:46 15 1098 275 2171
Unknown activity 116:01 2 786 26 2197
Experiment package systen interconnect, thumper and geophone unloading 116:03 23 786 301 2498
Mortar offload 116:26 3 972 49 2547
Unknown activity 116:29 5 778 65 2612
Suprathermal ion detector experiment unloading and deployment 116:34 11 905 156 2768
Penetrometer activity 116:45 2 795 26 2794
Geophone deployment 116:47 15 941 235 3029
Thumper activity 117:02 32 707 377 3406
Unknown activity 117:34 3 634 32 3438
Mortar pack arming 117:37 4 695 46 3484
Unknown activity 117:41 1 721 12 3496
Return traverse 117:42 12 1041 208 3704
Extravehicular activity closeout 117:54 21 1111 389 4093
Ingress 118:15 3 1231 62 4155
Extravehicular activity termination 118:18 5 1248 104 4259
Cabin repressurization 118:23 4 915 61 4320
Totals 4:48 288 930
(average)
4320 4320
a - An 8-minute loss of the biomedical data occurred at the begining of the EVA
b - The total metabolic production for the entire 4 hour 48 minute period, including the first 8 minutes, was 3840 for the Commander.


Table 10-II Metabolic Assessment of the Second Extravehicular Period

Surace Activity Starting time,
hr:min
Duration,
min
Average
metabolic rate,
Btu/hr
Metabolic
production,
Btu
Cumulative metabolic production, Btu
Commander
Cabin depressurization 131:08 5  486 88 88
Egress 131:13 7 750 40 128
Familiarization and transferal of equipment transfer bag 131:20 8 423 56 184
Modular equipment transporter loading 131:28 10 410 68 252
Lunar portable magnetometer offloading 131:38 5 465 39 291
Evaluation of modular equipment transporter (MET) track 131:43 5 423 35 326
Lunar module to A traverse 131:48  6 562 56 382
Station A activity 131:54 32 509 271 653
A to B traverse 132:26 8 761 101 754
Station B activity 132:34 5 772 64 818
B to Delta traverse 132:39 3 844 42 860
Station Delta activity 132:42 3 928 46 906
Delta to Bl traverse 132:45 3 1068 53 959
Station Bl activity 132:48 4 1228 82 1041
Bl to B2 traverse 132:52 5 1362 113 1154
Station B2 activity 132:57 3 1455 73 1227
B2 to B3 traverse 133:00 14 1492 348 1575
Station B3 activity 133:14 2 1655 55 1630
B3 to C' traverse 133:16 6 1810 181 1811
Station C' activity 133:22 16 1020 272 2083
C' to C1 traverse 133:38 2 97O 32 2115
Station Cl activity 133:40 6 1272 127 2242
Cl to C2 traverse 133:46 6 945 95 2337
Station C2 activity 133:52 2 896 30 2367
C2 to E traverse 133:54 6 1244 124 2491
Station E activity 134:00 2 1128 38 2529
E to F traverse 134:02 4 1281 85 2634
Station F activity 134:06  3 940 47 2661
F to G traverse 134:09 2 1118 37 2698
Station G activity 134:11 36 779 467 3165
G to G1 traverse 134:47 2 1065 35 3200
Station Gl activity 134:49  3 935 47 3247
Gl to lunar module 134:52 3 1209 60 3307
EVA closeout 134:55 40 1108 739 4046
EVA termination 135:35 6 903 90 4136
Post-extravehicular activity operations and cabin repressurization 135:41 2 1180 20 4156
Totals 4:35 275 910
(average)
4156 4156
Lunar Module Pilot
Cabin depressurization 131:08 12 410 82 82
Egress 131:20 1 633 11 93
Modular equipment transporter preparation 131:21 18 633 190 283
Lunar portable magnetometer offloading 131:39 5 756 63 346
Lunar portable magnetometer operation 131:44 2 921 31 377
Lunar module to A traverse 131:46 8 829 111 488
Station A activity 131:54 32 606 323 811
A to B traverse 132:26 8 840 112 923
Station B activity 132:34 5 555 46 969
B to Delta traverse 132:39 3 893 45 1014
Station Delta activity 132:42 2 1013 34 1048
Delta to Bl traverse 132:44 4 1272 85 1133
Station Bl activity 132:48 4 824 55 1188
Bl to B2 traverse 132:52 5 1154 96 1284
Station B2 activity 132:57 3 1336 67 1351
B2 to B3 traverse 133:00 14 1251 292 1643
Station B3 activity 133:14 2 1973 66 1709
B3 to C' traverse 133:16 6 2064 206 1917
Station C' activity 133:22 16 1142 304 2237
C' to C1 traverse 133:38 2 1283 43 2257
Station Cl activity 133:40 6 1160 116 2373
Cl to C2 traverse 133:46 6 1057 106 2479
Station C2 activity 133:52 2 1177 39 2518
C2 to E traverse 133:54 6 1337 134 2652
Station E activity 134:00 2 1341 45 2697
E to F traverse 134:02 4 1463 97 2794
Station F activity 134:06 3 1640 82 2876
F to G traverse 134:09 2 1551 52 2928
Station G activity 134:11 36 993 596 3524
G to G1 traverse 134:47 2 1504 50 3574
Station Gl activity 134:49 3 1260 63 3637
G1 to lunar module 134:52 3 1558 78 3715
Unknown activity 134:55 2 1415 47 3762
EVA closeout 134:57 28 1082 504 4267
EVA termination 135:25 10 1102 184 4451
Post-extravehicular activity operations and cabin repressurization 135:35 8 996 116 4567
Totals 4:35 275 1000
(average)
4567 4567



10.2 MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS

10.2.1 Adaptation to Weightlessness

Adaptation to the weightless state was readily accomplished. Shortly after orbital insertion, each crewman experienced the typical fullnessof-the-head sensation that has been reported by previous flight crews. No nausea, vomiting, vertigo, or disorientation occurred during the mission, and the crew did not observe distortion of facial features, such as rounding of the face due to lack of gravity, as reported by some previous crewmen.

During the first two days of flight, the crew reported discomfort and soreness of the laver back mil cles as has been noted on previous missions. The discomfort was sufficient in magnitude to interfere with sleep during the first day of the mission, and was attributed to changes in posture during weightlessness. Inflight exercise provided relief.

10.2.2 Visual Phenomenon

Each crewman reported seeing the streaks, points, and flashes of light that have been noted by previous Apollo crews. The frequency of the light flashes averaged about once every 2 minutes for each crewman. The visual phenomenon was observed with the eyes both open and closed, and the crew was more aware of the phenomenon immediately upon awakening than upon retiring. In a special observation period set aside during the transearth coast phase, the Command Module Pilot determined that dark adaptation was not a prerequisite for seeing the phenomenon if the level of spacecraft illumination was low. Furthermore, several of the light flashes were apparently seen by two of the crewmen simultaneously. Coincidence of light flashes for two crewmen, if a true coincidence, would substantiate that the flashes originated from an external radiation source and would indicate that they were generated by extremely-high-energy particles, presumably of cosmic origin. Low-energy highly-ionizing particles would not have the range through tissue to have reached both crewmen.

10.2.3 Medications

No medications other than nose drops, to relieve nasal stuffiness caused by spacecraft atmosphere, were used during the mission. On the third day of flight, the Commander and the Lunar Module Pilot used one drop in each nostril. Relief was prompt and lasted for approximately 12 hours. The Command Module Pilot used the nose drops 3 hours prior to entry.

On this mission, the nasal spray bottles in the inflight medical kit were replaced by dropper bottles because previous crews had reported difficulties in obtaining medication from spray bottles in zero-g. The crew reported no problems associated with the dropper bottle.

10.2.4 Sleep

The shift of the crew's normal terrestrial sleep cycle during the first four days of flight was the largest experienced so far in the Apollo series. The displacement ranged from 7 hours on the first mission day to 11-1/2 hours on the fourth. The crew reported some difficulty sleeping in the zero-g environment, particularly during the first two sleep periods. They attributed the problem principally to a lack of kinesthetic sensations and to muscle soreness in the legs and lower back. Throughout the mission, sleep was intermittent; i.e., never more than 2 to 3 hours of deep and continuous sleep.

The lunar module crewmen received little, if any, sleep between their two extravehicular activity periods. The lack of an adequate place to rest the head, discomfort of the pressure suit, and the 7-degree starboard list of the lunar module caused by the lunar terrain were believed responsible for this insomnia. The crewmen looked out the window several times during the sleep period for reassurance that the lunar module was not staxting to tip over.

Following transearth injection, the crew slept better than they had previously. The lunar module crewmen required one additional sleep period to make up the sleep deficit that was incurred while on the lunar surface.

The crevmen reported during postflight discussions that they were definitely operating on their physiological reserves because of inadequate sleep. This lack of sleep caused them some concern; however, all tasks were performed satisfactorily.

10.2.5 Radiation

The Lunar Module Pilot's personal radiation dosimeter failed to integrate the dosage properly after the first 24 hours of flight. To ensure that each lunar module crewman had a functional dosimeter while on the lunar surface, the Command Module Pilot transferred his unit to the Lunar Module Pilot on the fourth day of the mission. The final readings from the personal radiation dosimeters yielded net integrated (uncorrected) values of 640 and 630 millirads for the Commander and the Command Module Pilot, respectively. No value can be determined for the Lunar Module Pilot. The total radiation dose for each crewman was approximately 1.15 rads to the skin and 0.6 rad at a 5centimeter tissue depth. These doses are the largest observed on any Apollo mission; however, they are well below the threshold of detectable medical effects. The magnitudes of the radiation doses were apparently the result of two factors: (1) The translunar injection trajectory lay closer to the plane of the geomagnetic equator than that of previous flights and, therefore, the spacecraft traveled through the heart of the trapped radiation belts. (2) The space radiation background was greater than previously experienced. Whole-body gamma spectroscopy was also performed postflight on the crew and indicated no cosmic ray induced radioactivity.

10.2.6 Water

The crew reported that the taste of the drinking water in both the command module and the lunar module was excellent. All eight scheduled inflight chlorinations of the command module water system were accomplished. Preflight testing of the lunar module potable water system shaved that the iodine level in both water tanks was adequate for bacterial protection throughout the flight.

10.2.7 Food

The inflight food was similar to that of previous Apollo missions. Six new foods were included in the menu:

a. Lobster bisque (freeze dehydrated)

b. Peach ambrosia (freeze dehydrated)

c. Beef jerky (ready-to-eat bite-sized)

d. Diced peaches (thermostabilized)

e. Mixed fruit (thermostabilized)

f. Pudding (thermostabilized)

The latter three items were packaged in aluminum cans with easy-open, full-panel, pull-out lids. The crew did not report any difficulties either with removing the pull-out lids or eating the food contained in these cans with a spoon.

Prior to the mission, each crewman evaluated the available food items and selected his individual flight menu. These menus provided approximately 2100 calories per man per day. During most of the flight, the crew maintained a food consumption log. The Commander and the Lunar Module Pilot ate all the food planned for each meal, but the Command Module Pilot was satisfied with less.

Recovery-day physical examinations revealed that the Commander and the Lunar Module Pilot had maintained their approximate preflight weight, while the Command Module Pilot lost nearly 10 pounds. The Command Module Pilot stated that he would have preferred a greater quantity of food items requiring little or no preparation time.

10.3 PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS

Each crewman received a comprehensive physical examination at 27, 15, and 6 days prior to launch, with brief examinations conducted daily during the last 5 days before launch.

Shortly after landing, a comprehensive physical examination showed that the crew was in good health. Both the Commander and the Command Module Pilot had a small amount of clear, bubbly fluid in the left middleear cavity and slight reddening of the eardrums. These findings disappeared in 24 hours without treatment. The Lunar Module Pilot had moderate eyelid irritation in addition to slight redness of the eardrums. All crewmen showed a mild temporary reaction to the micropore tape covering their biomedical sensors. This reaction subsided within 24 hours.

10.4 FLIGHT CREW HEALTH STABILIZATION

During previous Apollo missions, crew illnesses were responsible for numerous medical and operational difficulties. Three days before the Apollo 7 launch, the crew developed an upper respiratory infection which subsided before lift-off, but recurred inflight. Early on the Apollo 8 mission, one crewman developed symptoms of a 24-hour viral gastroenteritis which was epidemic in the Cape Kennedy area around launch time. About two days prior to the Apollo 9 flight, the crew developed common colds which necessitated a delay of the launch for three days. Nine days before the Apollo 13 launch, the backup Lunar Module Pilot developed German measles (rubella) and inadvertently exposed the prime Command Module Pilot. The day before launch, the prime Command Module Pilot was replaced by his backup counterpart because laboratory tests indicated that the prime crewman was not immune to this highly communicable disease with an incubation period of approximately two weeks.

In an attempt to protect the prime and backup flight crew members from exposure to communicable disease during the critical prelaunch and flight periods, such as experienced on previous flight, a flight crew health stabilization program was implemented. This program consisted of the following phases:

a. Identification, examination, and immunization of all primary contacts (personnel who required direct contact with the prime or backup crew during the last three weeks prior to flight).

b. Health and epidemiological surveillance of the crew members and the primary contacts, their families, and the community.

c. Certain modifications to facilities used for training and housing the crew, such as the installation of biological filters in all air conditioning systems.

d. Housing of both the prime and backup crew members in the crew quarters at the Kennedy Space Center from 21 days before flight until launch.

The flight crew health stabilization program was a complete success. No illnesses occurred during the preflight period in any of the prime or backup crew members. This result is of particular significance because the incidence of infectious disease within the local community was near a seasonal high during the prelaunch period.

10.5 QUARANTINE

No change in quarantine procedures were made on this mission, except as follows:

a. Two mobile quarantine facilities were used.

b. Two helicopter transfers of the crew and support personnel were performed.

The new procedures were implemented to return the crew to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory five days earlier than on previous lunar landing missions.

The crew and 14 medical support personnel were isolated behind the microbiological barrier in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory at Houston, Texas, on February 12, 1971. Daily medical examinations and periodic laboratory examinations showed no signs of illness related to lunar material exposure. No significant trends were noted in any biochemical, immunological, or hematological parameters in either the crew or the medical support personnel. On February 27, 1971, after 20 days of isolation within the Lunar Receiving Laboratory, the flight crew and the medical support personnel were released from quarantine. Quarantine for the spacecraft and samples of lunar material was terminated April 4, 1971.

Chapter 11 - Mission Support Performance Table of Contents Apollo 14 Journal