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:
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
LECTURE TOPICS – order and topics subject to slight revision
Course Overview & Historical Perspective on Human Space Flight
Space Flight Environmental Parameters
Basic Human Life Support Requirements
Respiration and the Oxygen Cascade
Nutrition –
Ch. 8, & Temperature Regulation
a) Motor Control & b) Chronobiology
Physiology of
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) –
Exam Review
Exam 1 – 2/14
Miscellaneous Human Physiological Responses to Space Flight
Operational Space
Medicine –
Skeletal System –
Muscular System
–
a) Hormonal Regulation & b) Immunological Response
Neuro-Sensory System – Ch. 6 (balance) & Ch. 9 (motion sickness)
Radiation Effects –
Cardiovascular
System –
Exam Review – linked summary & cardio feedback loops
Exam 2 – 3/20
-- Spring Break Week --
Summary of Current
Biomedical Countermeasures –
Space Biology Experiment Design (& Proposal Writing)
Gravity Dependent Physical Processes
Guest Speaker, Joe Tanner
Microbial Responses & Related Crew Health Issues
Space Biotechnology & Plant and Animal Research in Space
Course wrap up & Psycho-Sociological Aspects – Ch. 2
Mock Review Panel – Final Period Monday, May 5, 1:30 pm
GRADING 20%
- Exam 1
20% - Exam 2
10% - Quizzes
20% -
Homework 1, Review Article – grade based on final ‘revised and resubmitted’ version following
peer review
5% - Homework 2, Journal Peer Review – your participation as a
reviewer
20% -
Homework 3, Research Proposal – grade based on proposal submittal with consideration of reviewer
comments
5% - Homework 4, Proposal Peer Review – your participation as a reviewer
and in the ‘Mock Panel Meeting’
HW1 Review Article (Instructions
for Authors) assigned – 1/22
HW1 Topic Selection due – 1/29
HW3 Research RFP (Submission
Guidelines) – 2/7
HW1 Bibliography List due – 2/12
HW1 Manuscript First Draft with Cover Letter (Sample)
due – 2/26
HW2 Journal Peer Review Process (Evaluation
Metrics) Assigned (Reviewer
Instructions) – 3/4
HW3 Research Proposal NOI due – 3/6 (topic only)
HW2 Reviewer Comments / Score Sheets due – 3/11
extended to 3/13
HW2 Reviewer Comments / Interim Score Returned to
Authors – 3/20
HW3 Proposal
Budget and CV Discussion – 4/3
HW1 Final Manuscript (Revise & Resubmit Guidelines) due with Cover Letter (Sample) – 4/3
HW3 Research Proposal due (hardcopy and electronic) – 4/10
HW4 Proposal Review Process (Evaluation Metrics) assigned – 4/17
HW4 Reviewer Score Sheets due (hardcopy only) – 4/24
HW4 Proposal Review Panel assigned – 5/1
HW4 Mock Review Panel Meeting – Final
Period
TEXT “Space
Physiology” by Buckey,
Suggested optional, ancillary references for additional information
“Textbook of Medical Physiology” 10th ed. Guyton and Hall, 2000
“Fundamentals of Space Medicine” Clement, Kluwer Academic Press, 2003
“Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine,” 3rd
ed., Dehart and
“Going Higher – Oxygen, Man and Mountains” 4th
ed.,
“Space Physiology and Medicine,” 3rd ed., Nicogossian, Huntoon and Pool, 1994 (out of print, difficult to find)
“Bioastronautics Data Book,”2nd ed., Parker and West (eds.), NASA SP-3006, 1973 (1st ed., 1964, both are out of print, difficult to find)
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