Perceived self-orientation and self-motion in microgravity, after landing and during preflight adaptation training.

The research described in this paper is intended to support development and evaluation of preflight adaptation training (PAT) apparatus and procedures. Successful training depends on appropriate manipulation of visual and inertial stimuli that control perception of self-motion and self-orientation. For one part of this process, astronauts are trained to report their self-motion and self-orientation experiences. Before their space mission, they are exposed to the altered sensory environments produced by the PAT trainers. During and after the mission, they report their motion and orientation experiences. Subsequently, they are again exposed to the PAT trainers and are asked to describe relationships between their experiences in microgravity and following entry and their experiences in the trainers.