Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) 2009: A 14-Day Evaluation of the Space Exploration Vehicle Prototype in a Lunar Analog Environment.

摘要

The primary purpose of the 2009 Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) test was to conduct a quantitative habitability and usability evaluation of the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) 1B prototype during a high-fidelity simulation of a 14-day Constellation Program lunar mission. Although future exploration operations are expected to involve two SEVs, the operations at DRATS 2009 focused primarily on operations by a single SEV with a two-person crew because only one mobile SEV prototype was available for testing. A two-person crew remained within the SEV for the entire 14-day mission, leaving the vehicle only through the suit ports to perform extravehicular activities (EVAs). Standard metrics were used to longitudinally quantify habitability and usability of all aspects of the SEV prototype. Vehicle and crewmember descriptive statistics were collected, including task times for EVA and intravehicular activity, distances traveled, scientific productivity, and egress and ingress durations. Multiple design modifications were identified, but the data indicated that the overall SEV habitability and human factors to be acceptable for a 14-day mission. The SEV prototype was also found to be acceptable for 24 hours of habitation by four crewmembers, as assessed during a simulated crew rescue scenario on the final day of the mission.