Vadim Rygalov, UND expert on space living, to present at Space Studies colloquium series; webcast available

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

2-26-2014

Campus Unit

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences

Abstract

Spring 2014 Space Studies Colloquium Series focuses on Human Flyby Missions to Mars

The University of North Dakota Department of Space Studies continues its spring 2014 Colloquium Series with a presentation by Vadim Rygalov, a Space Studies faculty member. His presentation is part of this semester's series focusing on the Human Flyby Mission to Mars. Space Studies is part of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Rask earned a Space Studies M.S. in 2001.

Topic: "Critical Human Factors in a Manned Martian Mission (Inspiration Mars flyby mission as a case study)"

Date: Monday, March 10

Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Ryan Hall, Room 111

About the Topic: Prolonged stays in space environments expose human subjects to multiple stressors with different effects and consequences for human physiology and psychological conditions. Some of those effects are well known and countermeasures developed, other ones are still uncertain and study can't be considered as sufficient. Inspiration Mars private initiative currently is proposing to send a two-person crew on a round trip flyby mission to Mars in 2018. Adding a human component to a Mars flyby exploratory by nature mission offers unique opportunities for exposure astronauts to the deep space environments. At the same time physiological limitations for human subjects and life support technology as well as human factors science aspects of such a mission are not clear yet. This presentation will focus on preliminary evaluation of the deep space manned missions Human Factors (HF) science aspects and assessment of potential scientific outcome from this 'bold endeavor' - class exploratory missions.

About the Speaker: Vadim Rygalov is associate professor of life sciences and life support at UND Space Studies Department. Rygalov's research focuses on the study of hybrid bio-regenerative life support approaches in long-duration autonomous space missions. He also studies the role of human factors as a major control element for such systems functional stability. He joined Space Studies in 2004. He was previously a research associate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Kennedy Space Center Space Life Sciences Laboratory on Martian Deployable Greenhouse project.

Rygalov also worked within Russian Space Program's Closed Ecological System for Life Support BIOS-3, known around the globe as one of the most stable bio-regenerative life support systems. He earned his Ph.D. in ecological biophysics in 1987. He participated in number of tests on human adaptation to extreme environments.

Colloquium presentations will available at the space.edu colloquium website after the live event.

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