Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 24, No. 14. 1961.
Overcoming Excess Strain
Overcoming Excess Strain
First among them is excess strain on the organism, arising at the moment the rocket accelerates. This means that the blood runs to the "lower" part of the body, draining the vital organs and causing a deterioration in the oxygen supply (which might cease altogether) and also in the removal of waste products.
The effects of overstrain were studied during flights by jet plane and in laboratory conditions, where centrifuge machines were used. The most effective protection is a special anti-excess-strain suit which compresses the body and prevents the evacuation of liquids to the "lower" section. It has been established that stresses are best endured when the forces act (in relation to the longitudinal axis of the human body) in the direction: chest-back or back-chest. This system of protection has quite justified itself and a specially trained astronaut can withstand the excess strain and at the same time perform certain active operations.