Helmeted, strapped in, padded, and climate-controlled.  While this may sound like a race car driver, we are actually describing those men and women who ride rockets into space;   the astronauts of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA).  As earth’s inhabitants, immeasurable efforts have been expended by millions of people to help protect us from harm while when engage in sports, drive a car, wash skyscraper windows, take a bath, and even operate a reclining chair.  We take such safety and even gravity for granted.  Now imagine being among the relative few working for NASA, and having in your very hands, the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of the lives of the space travelers.    

The TRC Inc. Impact Laboratory, in conjunction with The Ohio State University’s Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory (IBRL), is playing a key role in the development of the next generation space suit.  The space suit testing being conducted here is part of the NASA Constellation Program which plans to send human explorers back to the Moon and then to Mars and other space destinations. Space suit configurations are currently being assessed to understand and address potential crew injury concerns during various mission phases of the new crew exploration vehicle, Orion.
 

TRC Inc. was chosen for this testing because we have one of three of the world’s largest impact simulators.  Our Simulator features a 24-inch diameter HYGE Shock Tester which simulates the deceleration conditions of an impact, but in reverse.  Prior to an actual crash, a vehicle and its occupants (dummies) are moving at a constant velocity.  At impact, they are decelerated very rapidly.  With the HYGE system, the test vehicle and dummies are initially at zero velocity.  The programmed, rapid acceleration of the HYGE thrust column accelerates the sled with attached test article(s) and produces an impulse similar to that generated during the rapid deceleration of a moving automobile or aircraft during a crash impact.  Depending upon the orientation of the test article(s), crash load simulations of up to 750,000 pounds of thrust can be applied to any axis.  Payloads of 10,000 pounds can be accelerated to 71 mph and attain a peak acceleration of 44 G's.  Peak accelerations of 100 G's and velocities of 100 mph can be attained with lighter payloads. The HYGE simulator can also accommodate testing for:

• Anthropomorphic test device development
• Aircraft seat certification and fuselage tests
• Accident reconstruction
• Airbag development
• Seat systems
• Cargo restraint systems
• Child safety seats
• Interior impact protection systems
• Occupant restraint systems
• Athletic safety equipment
• Windshield retention systems