Deleterious Effect on Astronaut Capability of Vestibulo- Ocular Disturbance during Spacecraft Roll Acceleration

This study discusses the physiological limitations of the human and his susceptibility to error when subjected to extended and accelerated spacecraft rolling. The context for discussion is provided by the Gemini VIII spaceflight emergency of uncontrolled and accelerated rolling which caused the premature abort of the mission. Data from this flight imply that astronaut performance was impaired due to vestibulo-ocular disturbance. Five deleterious effects are attributed to spacecraft roll acceleration: disorientation, dizziness, impaired vision, nausea, and panic. Recommendations for astronaut selection and conditioning as well as spacecraft design are proposed to minimize these effects of accelerated rolling

Enabling quantitative data analysis through e-infrastructures

This paper discusses how quantitative data analysis in the social sciences can engage with and exploit an e-Infrastructure. We highlight how a number of activities which are central to quantitative data analysis, referred to as ‘data management’, can benefit from e-infrastructure support. We conclude by discussing how these issues are relevant to the DAMES (Data Management through e-Social Science) research Node, an ongoing project that aims to develop e-Infrastructural resources for quantitative data analysis in the social sciences