The major visual experiences of the astronauts and cosmonauts are described and compared with predictions of man's visual capabilities made prior to actual space flight. These experiences are discussed in terms of their implications about requirements for man's visual capabilities in future space flights. It is noted that most of the data to date are of an anecdotal nature, and that more careful experimentation must be conducted to assess fully man's capabilities and limitations. Some requirements for further study are described.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrownJ. L. (Ed.). Sensory and perceptual problems related to space flight. National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1961, Pub. 872.
2.
ChambersR. M.Problems and research in space psychology. NADC-MA-6145, U.S. Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, 24 April, 1962.
3.
Cooper flies almost-perfect 22 orbits. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 20 May, 1963, 78, 26–31.
4.
Details of the flight of the “Vostock”. Pravada, 25 April, 1961. Translated by PalmerJ. W., Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, England, Library Translation No. 948, May, 1961. (Titov.).
5.
The earth from outer space. Photos taken by Gherman Titov. USSR Illustrated Monthly, 1961, 10(61), 44–47.
6.
The first man in space. (A collection of translations from Soviet press reports.)New York: Crosscurrents Press, 1961. (Titov.).
7.
GagarinY.Road to outer space. USSR. Illustrated Monthly, 1961, 9(70), 17–22.
JonesE. R.Prediction of man's vision in and from the Mercury capsule. Unpublished paper presented at the 31st annual meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, Miami Beach, Florida, May, 1960.
10.
JonesE. R.GroberD. T.Studies of man's integration into the Mercury vehicle. Vol. I. The failure task analysis. Report 8276, 15 June, 1961, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri.
11.
JonesE. R.HannW. H.Jr.Vision and the Mercury capsule. Unpublished paper presented at the annual meeting of Armed Forces—NRC Committee on Vision, Washington, D.C., 30–31 March, 1961.
12.
KonecciE. B.Bioastronautics: State of the art—1962. Astronautics, 1962, 7, 104–109.
13.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with National Institutes of Health and National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings of a conference on results of the first U.S. manned suborbital space flight. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, June 6, 1961. (Shepard.).
14.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center. Results of the second U.S. manned suborbital space flight, July 21, 1961. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961. (Grissom.).
15.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center. Results of the first U.S. manned orbital space flight, February 20, 962. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962. (Glenn.).
16.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center. Results of the second U.S. manned orbital space flight, May 24, 1962. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962. (Carpenter.).
17.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center. Results of the third U.S. manned orbital space flight, October 23, 1962. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962. (Schirra.).
TitovG.435,000 miles through space. The flight of Vostok II. USSR Illustrated Monthly, 1961, 10(61), 2 ff.
20.
TitovG.With a camera in space. Priroda, 1961, 11, 8–9. Translated by PalmerJ. W., Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, England, Library Translation No. 979, December, 1961.