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MERCURY PROJECT SUMMARY (NASA SP-45)

 

18. AEROMEDICAL OBSERVATIONS

 

By A. D.CATTERSON, M.D., Center Medical Operations Office, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center; E.P. McCUTCHEON,1 M.D., Center Medical Operations Office, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center; H. A. MINNERS, M.D., Center Medical Operations Office, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center; and R. A. POLLARD, M.D., Center Medical Operations Office, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center

 

Summary

 

[299] The results of physiologic measurements and medical studies of Astronaut Cooper made prior to, during, and following his flight as pilot of the spacecraft of the MA-9 mission are presented in this paper. The pilot was in excellent health and in a complete state of mental and physical fitness for his mission on launch morning. The data revealed that all physiologic parameters measured in flight remained within the envelope of normal variability developed for this pilot through extensive monitoring of these same parameters under dynamic circumstances during his participation in training activities as a Mercury astronaut.

 

Astronaut Cooper withstood the stresses of flight situation with no evidence of degradation of his functional integrity as a pilot. He slept as part of the planned mission activities during his flight and reported that sleep was subjectively normal. Postflight examination of Astronaut Cooper revealed that he had developed dehydration. He exhibited an orthostatic hypotension accompanied by an accelerated pulse response in the postflight examinations. The pulse and blood pressure responses returned to normal while the pilot was sleeping between 9 hours and 19 hours after landing. A reversal of the ratio between neutrophiles and lymphocytes was noted in the peripheral blood at an examination accomplished 4 days after the mission. This lymphocytosis persisted for 2 weeks and subsided spontaneously by June 14, 1963. With respect to all other studies, the medical status of the pilot was found essentially unchanged between the preflight and postflight examinations.

 

This paper presents the specific results of medical studies of Astronaut Cooper's responses during and after his MA-9 mission in the dual context of a detailed report of the final Mercury mission and an effective summary in its own right of the-medical findings from Project Mercury. The results of the MA-9 mission are an effective summary of the entire program because every observation which was made on pilots during the earlier missions was repeated and qualitatively reconfirmed in the final flight.

 

At the same time, the medical-data collection program for the last flight was developed on the foundation of knowledge gained from each of the preceding manned space missions. The suitability and the limitations of the Mercury spacecraft environment to meet the requirements of human physiology were better understood with each succeeding flight. Thus, the final flight was approached with a better understanding of the likelihood of a given physiologic response occurring after exposure to the known stresses of a mission profile than had been previously possible. The opportunity for making valid medical observations during the MA-9 mission was further enhanced by the duration of the mission, as well as by the length of participation of Astronaut Cooper in the Mercury program, which provided an invaluable fund of baseline data prior to his actual flight.

 

Preflight Observation

 

Data were evaluated from very thorough medical studies of the pilot, Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., conducted immediately prior to his selection for astronaut training in 1959 and from annual examinations since that [300] date. Medical examinations were also conducted both before and after six preflight spacecraft checkout tests and a session in the Cape Canaveral procedures trainer, all of which required the pilot to wear the full-pressure space suit. Special examinations to assess the pilot's fitness for flight were conducted 11 and 3 days before launch. The latter examination conducted on May 12,1963, designated the "Comprehensive Medical Evaluation," was conducted by specialists in internal medicine, Ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, radiology, and aviation medicine. The NASA flight surgeon who had examined the pilot for most of the preflight activities conducted the final preflight medical examination on launch morning. The preflight aeromedical procedures and examination are listed in table 18-I.

 


Table 18-I. Pilot Preflight Activities

[Selected activities for which medical study or support was performed]

Date

Activity

Medical study or support

January 5

Altitude-chamber spacecraft checkout.

Physical examination before and after.

Background data (biosensors).

March 22-23

Hangar flight simulation.

Physical examination before and after.

Background data (biosensors).

April 23

Flight simulation no.1

Physical examination.

Background data (biosensors).

Timed urine collection.

May 4

T-10 day physical examination.

Physical examination, 45 minutes.

May 7

Mission simulation (procedures trainer)

Physical examination before and after.

Background data (biosensors).

Timed urine collection.

May 8

Launch simulation.

Physical examination before and after.

Background data (biosensors).

Timed urine collection.

Begin controlled diet.

Blood specimen, 50cc

May 10

Flight simulation no.3.

Physical examination before and after.

Timed urine collection.

Background data (biosensors).

May 11

-

Begin low residue diet.

May 12

T-2 day physical examination.

Comprehensive medical examination, 2 1/2 hours

Blood (30cc) and urine specimen.

May 14

Countdown (flight canceled).

Physical examination before and after.

Blood specimen, 30cc

Timed urine collection.

May 15

Flight countdown.

Physical examination

Aeromedical countdown

Awaken 2:51 a.m. e.s.t.

Launch 8:40 a.m. e.s.t.


 

In addition to examinations by physicians, baseline clinical evaluations included an audiogram, an electrocardiogram, a chest X-ray, and laboratory studies of blood and urine. The results of these evaluations are found in tables 18-II to 18-V. For the 3 months prior to the flight, the pilot continued in excellent health with no significant abnormalities. In the month prior to flight, he maintained his physical fitness by daily distance running and calisthenics.

 

Close supervision of the pilot's food intake began 7 days before the planned flight with special preparation of a normal balanced diet. In order to reduce the need for defecation during the mission, a low-residue diet was followed for 4 days before the launch (ref. l). This diet was well tolerated, although the pilot did mention that appetite satisfaction was short-lived following the low-residue meals.


[301] Table 18-II. Pertinent excerpts from clinical examination

Preflight, May 15, 1963;

3:55 to 4:11 a.m. e.s.t.

Postflight (U.S.S. Kearsarge) May 16, 1963;

7:15 to 7:45 p.m. e.s.t

Temperature (oral), °F

97.4

99.4

Hear rate, beats/min

76

86

Respiration rate, breaths/min

16

16

Blood pressure, left arm, mm Hg

108/76 supine

122/82 standing

90/80 supine

Nude weight (bladder empty), lb

147

139 1/4

Comments

Alert, cooperative, 2+ erythema at BPMS microphone tape site.

Fatigued and sweating. See text.



Table 18-III. Complete Blood Count. (all times are in e.s.t)

Sept.4, 1959

Mar 4, 1963; 1:40 p.m.

May 12, 1963; 5:00 p.m.

May 16, 1963; 8:55 p.m.

May 17, 1963; 9:00 p.m.

May 20, 1963; 11:00 a.m.

May 31, 1963; 3:00 p.m.

June 14, 1963

Hematocrit, percent

46

44

43

49

43

43

43

43

Hemoglobin, grams/100 ml

14.8

14.3

15.0

16.5

14.0

14.7

14.3

14.2

Red blood cells, millions/mm3

5.09

-

4.79

4.80

4.83

4.50

-

-

Platelets/mm3

-

284,000

314,000

-

-

230,000

-

-

White blood cells/mm3

5,850

6,800

6,500

9,200

5,650

6,000

7,700

5,100

Differential blood count:

Neutrophiles, percent

69

50

60

75

49

35

38

49

Lymphocytes, percent

29

46

36

20

42

58

61

47

Monocytes, percent

1

2

3

5

5

5

1

2

Eosinophiles, percent

0

2

1

0

3

2

0

1

Basophiles, percent

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

1



Table 18-IV. Comparison of typical preflight and postflight urine values.

Preflight

Postflight

Date, 1963

May 12

May 20

Source

Random sample

Random sample

Specific gravity

1.1018

1.1019

pH

6.0

6.0

Albumen, sugar, acetone, and bile

Negative

Negative

Microscopic

Few WBC, no RBC, small amounts of amorphous phosphates and mucus, and one hyaline cast.

One to 2 WBC/HPF, no RBC, no casts, moderate amount of amorphous phosphates.



[302-303] Table 18-V. Urine Analysis.

Date

Time

Total volume, cc

Specific gravity

Na, mEq/l

K, mEq/l

Ca, mEq/l

Cl, mEq/l

PO4, mg%

Creatinine, mg%

Comments

Mar. 20, 1963

7:30 a.m. to 9:26 a.m.

184

1.012

141

55

4.15

161

26.7

85

Low residue diet

Mar. 20, 1963

9:26 a.m. to 12:59 a.m.

260

1.013

180

49

16.3

207

42.2

110

-

Mar. 20, 1963

12:59 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

420

1.014

129

40

10.1

159

56.6

86

-

Mar. 20, 1963

4:45 p.m. to 9:10 p.m.

330

1.015

125

38

8.7

111

73

111

-

Mar. 21, 1963

9:10 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

340

1.012

137

17

7.5

100

58.3

102

-

Mar. 21, 1963

1:00 a.m. to 7:52 a.m.

830

1.005

79

14

5.0

79

31.4

62

-

Mar. 21, 1963

7:52 a.m. to 12:46 p.m.

470

1.011

143

42

10.3

174

26.6

94

-

Mar. 21, 1963

12:46 p.m. to 5:28 p.m.

286

1.017

179

54

16.85

210

74.3

125

-

Mar. 21, 1963

5:28 p.m. to 11:35 p.m.

600

1.015

189

41

7.6

178

48

105

-

Mar. 22, 1963

11:35 p.m. to 3:26 a.m.

210

1.015

239

31

10.6

163

54

-

-

Mar. 22, 1963

3:26 a.m. to 5:36 a.m.

110

1.018

216

34

25.5

165

55

-

-

Mar. 22, 1963

5:36 a.m. to 10:47 a.m.

255

1.018

154

38

21.3

142

54

134

-

Mar. 22, 1963

10:47 a.m. to 6:35 p.m.

300

1.020

116

47

20.85

86

135

152

Before hangar simulated flight.

Mar. 23, 1963

6:35 p.m. to 1:20 a.m.

360

1.023

131

51

18.9

119

75.4

142

During hangar simulated flight.

Apr. 23, 1963

6:00 a.m. to 6:50 a.m.

32

-

196

58

7.75

158

146

144

Simulated flight no.1 (before)

Apr. 23, 1963

6:50 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.

394

1.020

226

85

3.04

220

70.8

106

Simulated flight no.1 (during)

Apr. 23, 1963

12:35 p.m. to 5:08 p.m.

122

1.022

195

51

5.95

187

68.6

98

Simulated flight no.1 (after)

Apr. 25, 1963

Unknown to 11:35 a.m.

170

1.020

192

83

6.3

212

18.7

107

Simulated flight no.2 (before)

Apr. 25, 1963

11:35 a.m. to 4:28 p.m.

134

1.024

242

40

5.75

226

35.4

104

Simulated flight no.2 (during)

Apr. 25, 1963

4:28 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.

308

1.018

250

44

3.40

234

46.1

107

Simulated flight no.2 (after)

May 7, 1963

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

64

1.020

115

56

13.9

198

103

152

Procedures trainer (before).

May 7, 1963

8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

480

1.014

124

60

5.65

146

63.6

88

Procedures trainer (during).

May 8, 1963

9:15 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.

540

1.012

137

79

7.4

166

41.6

74

Launch simulation (during).

May 8, 1963

1:40 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

360

1.012

137

53

3.2

125

43

104

Launch simulation (after).

May 10, 1963

7:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

180

1.023

148

85

17.8

176

45.7

130

Simulated flight no.3 (before)

May 10, 1963

11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

170

1.025

198

72

20.7

219

76

114

Simulated flight no.3 (before)

May 10, 1963

2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

320

1.023

181

83

13.4

201

97

115

Simulated flight no.3 (during)

May 10, 1963

6:30 p.m. to 10:05 p.m.

80

1.026

200

71

6.9

165

148

139

Simulated flight no.3 (after)

May 13, 1963

6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

440

1.025

177

54

19.95

165

128

137

Before canceled flight.

May 14, 1963

9:00 p.m. to 2:50 a.m.

225

1.024

165

32

10.0

107

161

152

Before canceled flight.

May 14, 1963

2:50 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

680

1.012

120

49

5.6

128

12.6

56

Collection device-canceled flight.

May 14, 1963

7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

315

1.015

98

50

5.85

109

34

104

After canceled flight.

May 15, 1963

10:00 p.m. to 2:52 a.m.

178

1.028

112

34

23.4

73

214

162

Preflight.

May 15, 1963

2:52 a.m. to 3:55 a.m.

25

1.025

98

48

12.4

89

185

165

Preflight.

May 15, 1963

3:55 a.m. to 7:56 a.m.

177

-

184

68

8.25

212

33.8

125

Preflight (pad) bag no.1

May 15, 1963

7:56 a.m. to 12:29 p.m.

195

-

213

69

14.1

236

28.4

131

Inflight bag no.2

May 15, 1963

12:29 p.m. to 10:09 p.m.

314

-

197

56

12.6

188

130

154

Inflight bag no.3

May 16, 1963

10:09 p.m. to 7:15 a.m.

333

-

120

38

17.7

128

125

169

Inflight bag no.4

May 16, 1963

7:15 a.m. to 1:14 p.m.

107

1.026

137

41

15.6

150

136

170.8

Collection device.

May 16, 1963

1:14 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

70

1.031

107

96

16.4

126

240

177

1st voided sample.

May 17, 1963

9:30 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.

475

1.026

41

62

20.95

29

149

148

2nd voided sample.

May 17, 1963

1:05 p.m. to 9:12 p.m.

315

1.020

29

54

24.3

59

68.5

148

3rd voided sample.

May 18, 1963

9:12 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.

605

1.023

29

70

17.4

41

114

139

4th voided sample.

May 20, 1963

8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

-

1.019

125

92

15.2

150

68

110

4 days after recovery (physical exam Patrick AFB)


 

[304] The results of the final prelaunch examination revealed a healthy pilot who was ready for the mission. Two minor discrepancies were local skin erythema at the biosensor sites and moderate erythema, edema, and tenderness of the skin over the right sacral prominence. He frequently demonstrates a skin reaction around the sensors for 24 to 36 hours after application, despite the use of microporous surgical tape for fastening these sensors. It should be noted that these sensors were in place for 7 hours during the canceled launch on the preceding day. The skin findings over the sacrum are frequently present following prolonged periods of 4 or more hours on his back in the couch.

 

On the night before the postponed launch of May 14, 1963, the pilot slept well for about 2 hours and then dozed restlessly for another 3 1/2 hours. However, on the night before the successful launch, he slept well for 6 hours. Although he did become sleepy during periods of relative inactivity, such as the period spent in the transfer van, he felt adequately rested on launch morning. At no time was a drug administered to induce sleep.

 

The sources of detailed preflight physiologic data are outlined in tables 18-VI to 18-IX. These sources include dynamic tests for evaluation of general physical condition, Mercury Atlas three-orbital pass simulations, and Mercury-Atlas acceleration profiles conducted at the U.S. Naval Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory (AMAL) in Johnsville, Pa., and various spacecraft checkout procedures required during the final stages of preparation for flight.

 

The procedures which were monitored resulted in the largest number of total hours of observation yet available for any one astronaut. This extensive monitoring, was possible as a result of his activity as the MA-8 backup pilot and of his participation in three altitude-chamber spacecraft-checkout procedures, including the longest such test conducted at Cape Canaveral.

 

The pilot-safety monitoring and data-gathering biosensor system for this mission consisted of two sets of electrocardiographic (ECG) leads, the impedance pneumograph, an oral temperature thermistor, and the blood-pressure measuring system (BPMS). The details of operation of the biosensor system have been described in references 1 to 3. Because of the increased duration of the MA-9 flight, a change was made from continuous rectal to intermittent oral body temperature measurement. The basic thermistor was retained. The thermistor and its lead wires remained within the suit. The sensor was attached to the right ear muff inside the helmet where it was readily accessible The sensor and its location are illustrated in figures 18-1 and 18-2. It thereby provided an indication of suit-outlet temperature whenever an oral temperature was not being taken. When oral temperature was desired, the pilot placed the small thermistor under his tongue for about 5 minutes. Preflight body temperatures were all within the normal range. The remainder of the biosensor system was the same as that used for the MA-8 mission (ref. 1).


Photo of oral temperature probe

Figure 18-1. Oral temperature probe.


photo of temperature probe located inside space helmut

Figure 18-2. Installation of oral temperature probe in helmet.

 

Preflight biosensor preparation included careful calibration of the system so that accurate, repeatable determinations were assured . Adjustments were required to compensate for individual variations. This requirement was especially true for the blood-pressure measuring system. The clinical blood-pressure mean

 


[305] Table 18-VI. Detailed preflight heart-rate and respiration-rate data.

Date

Procedure

Duration of observation, hr:min

Mean

Heart rate

Respiration rate

Heart rate, beats/min

Respiration rate, breaths/min

Number of values

±2 standard deviations, beats/min

Range

Number of values

±2 standard deviations, breaths/min

Range

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

February 1959

Lovelace Clinic exercise tolerance test.

a 0:14

-

-

(b)

-

-

185

(b)

-

-

-

Sept.28, 1961, and Mar. 28, 1963

Mercury-Atlas Centrifuge dynamic simulations.

4:18

83

(b)

177

57 to 109

58

151

(b)

-

-

-

Apr. 13, 1962

Altitude chamber spacecraft checkout

10:29

79

18

161

54 to 104

60

129

117

11 to 25

12

28

July 23, 1962

Altitude chamber spacecraft checkout

7:33

64

19

111

49 to 79

46

92

111

14 to 24

13

26

Jan. 5, 1963

Altitude chamber spacecraft checkout

6:17

74

17

20,000

56 to 92

56

102

123

10 to 24

10

26

Mar. 23, 1963

Hangar flight simulation

2:00

64

19

4,254

51 to 77

55

106

44

8 to 30

13

41

Apr. 23, 1963

Flight simulation no.1

3:40

71

19

75

56 to 86

51

92

75

14 to 24

13

28

May 7, 1963

Mission simulation (procedures trainer).

5:22

71

(b)

103

50 to 92

50

102

(b)

-

-

-

May 8, 1963

Launch simulation

4:48

72

20

17,232

54 to 90

52

107

94

13 to 27

11

28

May 10, 1963

Flight simulation No.3

3:30

62

19

67

39 to 85

48

96

67

13 to 25

10

26

May 14, 1963

Launch countdown (canceled)

5:41

71

20

19,666

53 to 89

47

132

96

14 to 26

14

30

May 15, 1963

Launch countdown

2:31

73

16

9,010

48 to 98

51

104

50

10 to 22

10

24

a Duration determined by the maximum heart rate.

b Not recorded.



[306] Table 18- VII. Summary of Hear-rate and respiration-rate data.

 

Preflight

Date

Procedure

Duration of observation, hr:min

Overall mean

Range of mean rates

Range of ±2 standard deviations

Heart rate, beats/min

Respiration rate, breaths/min

Heart rate, beats/min

Respiration rate, breaths/min

Heart rate, beats/min

Respiration rate, breaths/min

September 1961 to May 15, 1963.

Centrifuge simulations and checkout procedures

56:23

72

19

62 to 83

16 to 20

39 to 104

8 to 30

Inflight

Date

Procedure

Duration of observation, hr:min

Mean

Heart rate

Respiration rate

Heart rate, beats/min

Respiration rate, breaths/min

Number of values

±2 standard deviations, beats/min

Range, beats/min

Number of values

±2 standard deviations, beats/min

Range, beats/min

May 15 and May 16, 1963.

Orbital flight

34:16

89

15

76,174

62 to 116

55 to 180

151

5 to 25

6 to 28

Postflight

May 16 and May 17, 1963.

Physical examinations.

(a)

77

16

4

72 to 82

56 to 88

1

(b)

-

a Not determined, not time critical.
b Not applicable.



[307] Table 18-VIII. Detailed preflight blood-pressure data.

 

Date

Procedure

Duration

Mean blood pressure, mm Hg

Systole

Diastole

Mean pulse pressure, mm Hg

Number of values

Range, mm Hg

Number of values

Range, mm Hg

Preflight, clinical

February 1959

Lovelace Clinic exercise tolerance test

00:14

a 174/86

-

-

-

-

-

March 1959

Aeronautical Systems Division dynamic tests:

Cold pressor

(b)

105/74

13

100 to 112

13

70 to 82

31

Tilt

(b)

109/75

30

92 to 138

30

68 to 88

34

Treadmill

(b)

134/87

18

110 to 156

18

80 to 100

47

September 1959

Lackland USAF Hospital physical examination

(b)

113/70

4

110 to 116

4

68 to 72

42

April 1962

Physical examinations

(b)

100/80

5

88 to 108

5

72 to 88

20

July 1962

Special BPMS test

(b)

116/78

58

102 to 124

58

64 to 84

39

July 23, 1962

Physical examinations

(b)

103/79

16

98 to 106

16

73 to 82

25

March 12, 1963

Physical examinations

(b)

108/72

4

98 to 118

4

68 to 78

37

Apr. 23, 1963 to May 15, 1963

Physical examinations during final preflight checkout period.

(b)

115/78

8

105 to 120

8

72 to 82

37

Preflight, blood pressure measuring system.

Sept. 12, 1961

Mercury-Atlas centrifuge dynamic simulation

2:23

114/85

12

103 to 144

12

66 to 98

29

Apr. 13, 1962

Altitude-chamber spacecraft checkout

10:29

134/91

10

128 to 148

10

70 to 124

43

July 10 and July 23, 1962

BPMS calibration

3:00

110/79

73

96 to 128

69

63 to 88

31

July 23, 1962

Altitude-chamber spacecraft checkout

7:33

94/71

8

79 to 111

8

61 to 79

23

Jan. 3, 1963

BPMS calibration

1:00

108/80

14

99 to 116

14

73 to 87

28

Jan. 5, 1963

Altitude-chamber spacecraft checkout

6:17

112/83

12

99 to 122

12

77 to 89

29

Mar. 22 and Mar. 23, 1963

Hangar flight simulation

2:05

94/71

5

89 to 107

5

65 to 81

23

Apr. 23, 1963

Flight simulation No.1

3:40

114/91

6

104 to 123

6

81 to 99

23

May 8, 1963

Launch simulation

4:48

106/82

12

101 to 123

12

71 to 91

24

May 10, 1963

Flight simulation No.3

3:30

110/90

2

107 to 112

2

89 to 91

20

May 14, 1963

Launch countdown (canceled)

5:41

120/82

8

117 to 127

8

77 to 89

38

May 15, 1963

Launch countdown

2:31

110/82

4

107 to 119

4

73 to 89

28

a Value at test endpoint, other values not available.
b Not determined, not time critical.



[308] Table 18-IX. Summary of Blood pressure data.

Date

Procedure

Duration, hr:mn

Mean blood pressure, mm Hg

Systole

Diastole

Mean pulse pressure, mm Hg

Number of values

±2 standard deviation, mm Hg

Range, mm Hg

Number of values

±2 standard deviation, mm Hg

Range, mm Hg

Preflight clinical

February 1959 to May 15, 1963

Crew selection examination, special tests and preflight examinations.

(a)

113/79

95

99 to 127

88 to 124

95

69 to 89

64 to 88

34

Preflight, blood pressure measuring system

September 1961 to May 15, 1963

Centrifuge simulations and preflight test procedures

56:09

112/79

160

86 to 138

79 to 148

160

58 to 90

61 to 124

33

Inflight, blood pressure measuring system

May 15 and May 16, 1963

Orbital flight

34:16

119/81

12

(b)

109 to 131

12

(b)

73 to 89

38

Postflight, clinical

May 16 and May 17, 1963

Postflight physical examinations.

(a)

91/66

16

75 to 107

86 to 100

16

55 to 77

52 to 82

25

a