Academic

Weird Stuff From NASA

By Kim Krawiec

Like this 1965 photo of the Reduced Gravity Walking Simulator, via Wired Science.

The man is in this photo is wearing a special pressurized spacesuit to help scientists study ?the lunar walking problem? by analyzing the phsyiological [sic] effects of reduced gravity on walking, running, jumping, fatigue limits, energy expenditure and speed.

The Simulator was described in a 1964 paper titled ?Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators for Space Research?:

When the astronauts land on the moon they will be in an unfamiliar environment involving, particularly, a gravitational field only one-sixth as strong as on earth. A novel method of simulating lunar gravity has been developed and is supported by a puppet-type suspension system at the end of a long pendulum. A floor is provided at the proper angle so that one-sixth of the subject?s weight is supported by the floor with the remainder being supported by the suspension system.

Moon day may be over, but our celebration doesn?t have to be.  See also this slideshow of other Oddities From NASA's Massive Image Archive

Image Source: NASA

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on August 08, 2009 (boomark / email).