Mary Shafer wrote:
On 12 Nov 2003 22:56:20 GMT, Andrew Gray
wrote:


In article , John Penta wrote:


Somehow, I
doubt many average people (assuming "average" physical fitness) could
sustain the G-forces of launch without either getting themselves
killed, or hurting themselves.


Hmm. What are the G-forces pulled on launch? I suspect from vague memory
they're nothing that a reasonably average (ie, not clinically obese,
asthmatic, or suffering any other notable problems) adult couldn't
handle with a modicum of training and possibly some assistance - padded
couch, or the like. (Aborts may be more interesting, though)


People are a lot tougher than you think. Flight in the Shuttle, in
aborts, is nowhere near the physiological limits of the average,
out-of-shape, overweight couch potato. In fact. the human limits are
much higher than the vehicle limits.

I'm pretty sure the Shuttle never pulls more than 3 g and it's in the
best direction, into the chest. The g load that's harder to sustain
is the head-to-toe load, because that's the one that pulls all the
blood away from the brain, down to the legs. This is why the 9-g F-16
has a semi-reclined seat. However, even I, an asthmatic, obese,
out-of-shape older adult, can tolerate 4 g head-to-toe without a g
suit and over 5 g with one.

I almost lost consciousness on a carnival ride where the acceleration
forced blood to the lower parts of my body. How many g s do carnival
rides typically exert?


--
Hop David
http://clowder.net/hop/index.html