NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

OpNom: 3D Space

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

The Mental Representation of Spatial Cues During Space Flight (3D-Space) experiment investigates the effects of exposure to microgravity on the mental representation of spatial cues by astronauts during and after space flight. The absence of the gravitational frame of reference during space flight could be responsible for disturbances in the mental representation of spatial cues, such as the perception of horizontal and vertical lines, the perception of an object's depth, and the perception of a target's distance.

Principal Investigator(s)

Gilles Clement, Ph.D., International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Corinna E. Lathan, Ph.D., AnthroTronix, Incorporated, Silver Springs, MD, United States

Developer(s)

AnthroTronix Incorporated, Silver Springs, MD, United States
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, , France

Sponsoring Space Agency

European Space Agency (ESA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

April 2008 - September 2011

Expeditions Assigned

17,18,19/20,21/22,23/24,25/26,27/28

Previous ISS Missions

3D-Space is an ongoing investigation which began on ISS Expedition 17.

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Handwriting and drawing tasks in the Mental Representation of Spatial Cues During Space Flight (3D-Space) investigation will be used to compare the mental representation of the horizontal versus vertical components of layouts of letters and two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects.



• 3D-Space will investigate if depth perception is altered during space flight by analyzing the strength of geometric optical illusions based on perspective. Subjects will also be asked to indicate which of normal, elongated, or shrunk three-dimesional objects look normal while in microgravity and after return to Earth.



• 3D-SPACE will investigate distance perception in microgravity by comparing the judgments of relative distance between three-dimesional objects and landmarks on three-dimesional natural scenes, as well as absolute distance between self and one landmark

Description

This experiment involves comparisons of preflight, inflight, and postflight perceptions and mental imagery, with special reference to spaceflight-related decreases in the vertical component of percepts. There are two methodological foci: The first uses multiple measures, stimulus production and stimulus evaluation, to disentangle perceptual and motor contributions. The second is use of a digitizing tablet for subject written input. Virtual reality is used for information display and presentation of perceptual stimulus.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

Preflight baseline data collection (BDC) will occur at approximately launch minus (L-) 90, L-60, and L-30 days. One BDC session will include performance of three perceptual/motor tasks lasting about 10 minutes each. One task includes writing words horizontally and vertically and drawing geometrical objects using a digitizing tablet. A second task involves adjusting the shape of a geometrical illusion or a three-dimensional object presented in a head-mounted virtual reality display. The third task includes estimating the relative or absolute distances between objects and landmarks in three-dimensional images presented in the head-mounted display. Postflight sessions are identical to those conducted preflight and will be performed on return plus (R+) 0, R+1 or 2, R+4, and R+8 days.

Inflight sessions include the same tasks as the preflight and postflight BDC sessions along with set-up and stowage of associated equipment. Four sessions are planned, with the first session on flight day 10, the second and third session at mid-flight, and a final session within 1-2 weeks before landing. During the tasks subjects will be free-floating to minimize orientation and cognitive reference cues.

This experiment uses the EPM laptop computer on board Columbus. A digitizing tablet, head-mounted display, and a finger trackball will interface with the laptop (using associated cables) for performance of the required tasks.

A total of ten subjects are required to complete this investigation.

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

ISS Medical Project

The information on this page is provided courtesy of the ESA Erasmus Experiment Archive.

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Imagery

Artist view of a crewmember performing the 3D-Space experiment. Image courtesy of CNRS.
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NASA Image: ISS017E011926 - Greg Chamitoff, Flight Engineer works with 3D-Space experiment in the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo, during Expedition 17.
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NASA Image: ISS019E012429 - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, Expedition 19 flight engineer, prepares to perform the Mental Representation of Spatial Cues During Space Flight (3D-Space) experiment Columbus module.
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NASA Image: ISS020E012614 - ESA Multipurpose Laptop with a prepared HDD (Hard Disk Drive),data storage on a PCMCIA memory card,and an electronic pen table connected to it to be used by the Expedition 20 crew during the French/CNES neuroscientific research experiment 3D Space (SAP) as Subject #5. Experiment was conducted in the Columbus module.
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NASA Image: ISS026E027001- European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoli, Expedition 26 flight engineer, conducts a test run with the French/CNES neuroscientific research experiment ?3D-Space? (SAP) in the Columbus laboratory of the International Space Station. While floating freely, Nespoli used the ESA multipurpose laptop with a prepared hard disk drive, data storage on a memory card, and an electronic pen table connected to it. 3D-Space, which involves distance, writing and illusion exercises, is designed to test the hypothesis that altered visual perception affects motor control.
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