Updated 4/30/2008 4:36 PM

ASEN 5016
SPACE LIFE SCIENCES

Spring 2008 T/Th 1100-1215 Room ECCS 1B14

Distance Learning access available via CAETE

Instructor: Dr. David Klaus

telephone: (303) 492-3525

email: klaus@colorado.edu

This course is primarily intended to familiarize engineering students with factors affecting living organisms (ranging from single cells to humans) in the reduced-gravity environment of space flight, including lunar and Martian surface conditions. Unique insight will be gained regarding engineering design requirements for spacecraft life support systems, space habitats and spacesuits, and biotechnology payloads. NASA programs associated with current human space flight and future exploration missions are reflected and identified throughout the lecture topics. Life support fundamentals, as they relate to basic human survival requirements, are covered initially. Next, the lectures turn to more detailed descriptions of the physiological adaptations that occur to people in space, with pertinent background information presented for each topic. Corresponding biomedical countermeasures needed to maintain crew health for long duration missions will also be discussed, with emphasis on future Moon and Mars exploration plans. Finally, the underlying biophysical mechanisms affected by gravity, along with experiment design criteria, will be addressed.

In addition to elaborating on the lecture material, a linked series of homework tasks is intended as a practical introduction to the process of journal publishing and research proposal writing, and includes peer review processes for each. The assignment begins with writing a short journal article on a relevant topic of your choice, participating as a peer reviewer for the editor, revising your draft per comments received, and submitting a final manuscript. From this background, you will subsequently prepare a research grant proposal that builds on your selected topic (along with a CV and budget) and culminates in a mock review panel held on the last day of class. This end-to-end flow closely mimics the standard practice in the scientific community and is a valuable generic process to experience regardless of your specific research interests.

NOTES:

The final topics to be covered are now indicated in the lecture sequence below, notes will be posted a day prior as usual.

Quiz 3/4 and the Mock Panel Review process as part of HW4, which will be discussed and assigned on the last day of class, are all that remain as far as deliverables for the semester.

Don’t forget, your revised HW 1 manuscript is due on Thursday 4/3. I’ll be discussing the HW 3 proposal then too.

I am available from now through the end of the semester (5/2) to schedule an appointment to go over the T/F/Depends questions on exam 1 for the ‘points back’ offer. Email me to set a time, Mondays and Fridays are best. Doing so by phone for CAETE students is fine.

Also, send me a short email regarding significant figure usage and I’ll also give you that point back for those of you who lost one there.

Homework 2 instructions are now posted – see links to Evaluation Metrics and Instructions for Reviewers below

Deadline for HW2 submittal has been extended 2 days to Thurs 3/13 (3/20 for CAETE)

Please take a look at the upcoming lecture flow, the order has been revised slightly to accommodate guest lecturer schedules. Be sure to read the corresponding chapter(s) in the textbook indicated with each lecture prior to class.

OFFICE HOURS: drop in as available, or by appointment, Mondays or Fridays

GRADING POLICY NOTES

ADDITIONAL SYLLABUS NOTES

LECTURE TOPICS – order and topics subject to slight revision