WEIGHTLESS MAN: SELF-ROTATION TECHNIQUES

To be an effective weightless worker, an individual must be able to achieve and maintain a stable attitude with respect to his vehicle. If the worker is to have this capability, he must be able to control both translation and rotation. Translation may not be controlled without hardware, whereas rotation may. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of body rotation by limb manipulation. This self-rotation is analyzed by the application of theoretical mechanics to a rigid mathematical model composed of six cylindrical segments. A quantitative evaluation, based on the mathematical model, is made for one maneuver to determine the expected degree of rotation. As a result of this analysis, a series of selected maneuvers are proposed to give man the capability for rotation about three mutually perpendicular axes. The nine maneuvers are intended to provide an effective rotation, while reducing undesirable coupled rotations. In addition, the stability of rotation of various geometrical shapes is investigated to determine if man can expect a self-rotation maneuver to be stable.