July 14, 14:45

NASA studies how to make air taxi flights more comfortable for users

To prevent the experience of flying in an air taxi from being unpleasant and deterring potential customers, NASA is investigating methods to make these journeys smoother and more comfortable.

Virtual Reality Simulator Tests

The space agency used virtual reality simulators to understand how different aircraft movements impact passenger perception and, consequently, their willingness to adopt this new mode of transport. The tests were conducted at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, located in Edwards, California.

NASA employees participated in virtual flights using a motion simulator integrated with virtual reality. This equipment was specifically developed to replicate the conditions that future vertical takeoff and landing aircraft may encounter. During the simulations, volunteers traveled an imaginary route between San Francisco and Alcatraz Island, experiencing various levels of lateral inclination, rapid acceleration, ascent, and descent.

Assessment of Participant Discomfort

Each volunteer rated the flight experience on a five-point scale, detailing which situations caused discomfort. Variations in reactions were observed: some individuals remained calm even when facing more vigorous movements, while others expressed discomfort with minimal variations.

Guidance for Aircraft Development

The collected responses helped researchers develop models that establish a correlation between aircraft behavior and the level of comfort felt by occupants. The goal is to provide crucial data so that manufacturers and operators can optimize both their vehicles and piloting procedures.

Among the central aspects analyzed by the agency are abrupt movements during turns, ascents, and descents; the effect of wind gusts and landings on the passengers' experience; the link between movement intensity and the probability of taking new flights; and defining acceptable comfort limits for air taxi users.

Curtis Hanson, a senior researcher at NASA Armstrong responsible for this study, clarified that the research aims to determine these limits before the service is made available to the public. He stated: 'We can start making predictions about how air taxis should fly so that most passengers find the experience pleasant and want to travel again, which will benefit the public and the industry.'

Acceptance of Urban Air Transport

In addition to the current tests, NASA compared the findings with previous studies on air travel quality. The analysis revealed that contemporary passengers show lower tolerance for uncomfortable movements compared to travelers fifty years ago. This disparity could significantly influence the acceptance of air taxis. Even if technology enables fast urban travel, the quality of the in-cabin experience will be a decisive factor for repeat use of the service.

This study is part of NASA's advanced aerial mobility research, constituting a long-term effort focused on how the human body responds to aircraft movements. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of a new generation of urban flights that is not only technically feasible but also enjoyable for those on board.

olhardigital.com.brJuly 6, 17:33

NASA plans to use robots to service new habitable worlds telescope instead of astronauts

NASA intends for the new Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) to be capable of receiving in-space repairs throughout its mission. This strategy aims to extend the telescope's operation while it searches for signs of life beyond Earth.

Design for Continuous Maintenance

Unlike what happened with Hubble, maintenance work in this case will not be performed by astronauts. The proposed solution is much more remote. The HWO is already being designed with a fundamental feature: it should not be a static piece of equipment after launch, but rather designed to allow maintenance throughout its operation.

Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of NASA's astrophysics division, informed Space.com that the HWO will require some level of maintenance capability. This could range from simple component replacement to more complex technical adjustments, reaching, in certain scenarios, the possibility of partial assembly in the space environment. This functionality is not a luxury, but a requirement, as the longer the update time, the greater the scientific advancement delivered by the instrument.

Contrast with Hubble

Hubble is remembered for being repaired in space by astronauts, which allowed several interventions, such as computer swaps, gyroscope replacements, installation of new instruments, and structural repairs. Initial decisions were made to ensure the avionics were modular, facilitating the removal and installation of new computers or gyroscopes by astronauts.

However, the HWO will follow a different path. It will be positioned at the Lagrange point L2, located approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This distance makes any manned mission currently unfeasible.

Robotic Maintenance at L2

The positioning location of the HWO coincides with the region of the James Webb Space Telescope, a point known to be stable, ideal for both observations and communication. However, this location implies a logistical difficulty: getting there is not easy. For this reason, NASA is already developing the idea of using robots to perform maintenance, although no defined model exists for this application yet.

Scientific Goal of HWO

The central purpose of the project is to prevent the HWO from being limited by the technology available at the time of launch, ensuring that it keeps pace with scientific evolution. Just as happened with Hubble, which received new instruments over the years, the HWO can incorporate more advanced sensors, new tools, and sophisticated methods for studying exoplanets. The ultimate goal remains clear: to identify Earth-like planets and investigate the possibility of life existing in the Universe.

olhardigital.com.brJuly 1, 22:51

NASA recruits volunteers to simulate long-duration missions to Mars and the Moon

NASA announced on Wednesday (the 1st) that it is recruiting volunteers to participate in an unprecedented long-duration mission simulation. Participants will remain in controlled environments for approximately one year, replicating conditions found in journeys to the Moon and Mars. The start of this experiment is scheduled for August 2027.

Project Structure and Objectives

The project will be conducted at the Johnson Space Center, located in Houston. Selected individuals will be placed in isolated habitats where they must perform operational functions analogous to those of future interstellar missions. This will include activities in scenarios mimicking the surface of other celestial bodies.

The main goal of this initiative is to collect detailed data on human performance and health in contexts of resource restriction and isolation. Such information is crucial for supporting future crewed expeditions into deep space, as well as lunar and Martian exploration programs.

Space Simulation Details

The agency has opened applications for volunteers interested in reproducing the challenges inherent in deep space travel. The selection process is rigorous, encompassing physical and educational criteria, in addition to extensive psychological evaluations.

Approved participants will reside in two closed modules representing distinct phases of an interstellar journey. One module will function as a spacecraft, while the other will serve as a surface base, enabling the simulation of extraterrestrial operations, such as fictional spacewalks and the use of exploration vehicles.

This study integrates elements from two previous human isolation research programs, utilizing structures already employed in prior experiments to deepen the analysis of adaptation during prolonged missions.

Monitoring and Future Contributions

Throughout the experience, volunteers will be monitored by researchers. These researchers will track the effect of isolation, resource scarcity, and operational demands on the human body and behavior, providing input for the planning of future crewed missions.

Additionally, the program aims to boost the development of life support protocols and technologies in extreme environments, assisting in plans for a continuous human presence on the Moon and future trips to Mars. To apply, one must be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national holding a Green Card, in addition to meeting other specific health conditions.