Updated 4/30/2009 2:48 PM
ASEN 5016
SPACE
LIFE SCIENCES
Spring 2009 T/Th 3:30-4:45 Room ECCS 1B12
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
4/6 – The Excel budget template for the HW4 proposal is
posted in the assignment items at the bottom
4/5 – Metrics for the HW4 proposal review are posted
3/30 – the CAETE HW2 reviews are late getting back, I hope to
get them distributed late tomorrow (3/31) with extra time for the final
submittal
2/23 – deadline for draft article submission has been
extended by 2 days, due 2/26 now, use the additional time wisely!
2/10 - There are no notes posted for today’s exam review
since we will just be going over material that has already been provided.
CAETE students – add one week to all posted due dates
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 3:30-4:30 and Thurs 1:30-2:30
LECTURE TOPICS – order and topics subject to slight revision
Course Overview & Historical Perspective on Human Space Flight
Space Flight Environmental Parameters
Human Spacecraft Life Support Requirements and Trade Factors
Respiration and the Oxygen Cascade
Nutrition –
Ch. 8, & Temperature Regulation
a) Motor Control & b) Chronobiology
Physiology of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) – Ch. 5
Exam Review
Exam 1 – 2/12
Miscellaneous Human Physiological Responses to Space Flight
Neuro-Sensory System – Ch. 6 (balance) & Ch. 9 (motion sickness)
Skeletal System –
Muscular System
–
a) Hormonal Regulation & b) Immunological Response
Radiation Effects –
Operational Space Medicine – Ch. 12 (partial)
Cardiovascular
System –
Exam Review – linked summary & cardio feedback loop
Exam 2 – 3/19
-- Spring Break Week --
Space Biology Experiment Design (& Proposal Writing)
Summary of Current Biomedical
Countermeasures –
Gravity Dependent Physical Processes
Microbial Responses & Related Crew Health Issues
Plant and Animal Research in Space
Guest Lecture ‘What it’s really like to fly in space!’ Joe Tanner
Psycho-Sociological Aspects –
Astrobiology /
Course wrap up / Mock panel prep
Mock Review Panel – Final Exam Period
GRADING 20%
- Exam 1
20% - Exam 2
10% - Quizzes (take home, not
in class 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 – 1/20
HW1 Topic Selection due – 1/27
HW3 Research RFP (Submission
Guidelines) – 2/5
HW1 Bibliography List / Article Synopsis due – 2/10
HW1 Manuscript First Draft with Cover Letter (Sample,
or email text variant) due – 2/24 EXTENDED to 2/26
HW2 Journal Peer Review Process (Evaluation
Metrics) Assigned (Reviewer
Instructions) – 3/3 (returned 3/5)
HW3 Research Proposal NOI due – 3/5 (topic only)
HW2 Reviewer Comments / Score Sheets due – 3/10 (2
day grace period ok if needed)
HW2 Reviewer Comments / Interim Score Returned to
Authors – 3/19
HW3 Proposal
Budget and CV
Discussion – 3/31
HW1 Final Manuscript (Revise & Resubmit Guidelines) due with Cover Letter (Sample) – 4/2
HW3 Research Proposal due (hardcopy and electronic) – 4/9 EXTENDED
to 4/10
HW4 Proposal Review Process (Evaluation Metrics) assigned – 4/16
HW4 Reviewer Score Sheets due (hardcopy only for local students, e-copy
for CAETE ok) – 4/23
HW4 Proposal Review Panel assigned – 4/30
HW4 Mock Review Panel Meeting – Final Exam
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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