Full report

Original page 1

NASA TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM JSC-09293 NASA TM X- 58148 December 1974 SKYLAB MEDICAL DATA CENTER AND ARCHIVES (NASA-TM-X-58148) SKYLAB MEDICAL DATA N75-17080 CENTER AND ARCHIVES (NASA) 13 p HC $3.25 CSCL 06E Unclas G3/52 09668 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER HOUSTON,. TEXAS 77058

Original page 2

1. Report No. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 2. TM X-58148 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date December 1974 6. Performing Organization Code SKYLAB MEDICAL DATA CENTER AND ARCHIVES JSC-09293 7. Author(s) Fred R. Spross 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D. C. 20546 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract 8. Performing Organization Report No. 10. Work Unit No. 948-90-90-89-72 1.1.Contract or Grant No. 13. Type of Report and Period Covered - Technical Memorandum 14. Sponsoring Agency Code The founding of the Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives by the Life Sciences Directorate as a central area to house medical data from space flights is described. Skylab Program strip charts, various daily reports and summaries, experiment reports and logs, status reports on Skylab data quality, raw data digital tapes, processed data microfilm, and other Skylab documents are housed in the data center. In addition, this memorandum describes how the data center acted as a central point for the coordination of preflight and postflight baseline data and how it served as the Life Sciences Directorate coordinator for all data processing through the Computation and Analysis Division. Also described is a catalog identifying Skylab medical. experiments and all related data currently archived in the data center. 17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s)) -Mission Surgeon .Medical Data -Trend Charts Skylab Data 18. Distribution Statement STAR Subject Category: 54 (Man/System Technology and Life Support). (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 19. Security Classif. Unclassified 13 $3.25 Unclassified *For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151 JSC Form 1424 (Rev Jul 74) NASA - JSC

Original page 3

NASA TM X-58148 SKYLAB MEDICAL DATA CENTER AND ARCHIVES Fred R. Spross Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058

Original page 4

SKYLAB MEDICAL DATA CENTER AND ARCHIVES By Fred R. Spross Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center SUMMARY Medical Data Center and Archives at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson The Skylab Life Sciences Directorate to house medical data Space Center was founded by the flights. The center houses such selected Skylab documents as from Skylab space and summaries, experiment reports and logs, status strip charts, daily reports quality, raw data digital tapes, and processed data microfilm. reports on data Center and Archives also served as a central point for the The Medical Data and postflight baseline data. In addition, the center coordination of preflight for the Medical Experiments Hardware project engineers and acted as coordinator the Test Division Instrumentation Integration Branch and as Life Sciences coordinator for all data processing through the Computation and Directorate on the successful operation of the Medical Data Center Analysis Division. Based and Archives during each Skylab mission and the massive amount of data accumulated, a catalog was completed identifying and describing Skylab medical experiments and all related data presently archived in the data center. Currently, are being considered to expand the center to include researching and plans data from past space-flight programs and setting up operations obtaining medical for all future programs. INTRODUCTION the Skylab Program, medical data from space-flight programs were Before stored at locations throughout the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). the data was in the personal files of researchers and not readily acces- Much of sible to other interested individuals within or outside NASA. Additionally, of the massive quantity of medical data that was expected to be generabecause during the Skylab missions, a central area was needed to ensure that these ted data were properly collected, processed, verified, cataloged, distributed, and archived in a timely manner to support the Skylab Program and also to provide a central working area for medical research based on these data. Thus, the Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives was established. Currently, the data center contains the Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test and Skylab-related medical data including medical experiment and operational systems hardware data. Later, the center may be expanded to include medical data from previous and future programs. The overall intent is to establish a central area where NASA personnel, contractors, or independent research

Original page 5

representatives can retrieve and study space-flight-related medical data and where valuable research data can be stored to avoid their loss through personnel changes. As an aid to the reader, where necessary the original units of measure have been converted to the equivalent value in the Systlme International d'Unit6s (SI). The SI units are written first, and the original units are written parenthetically thereafter. GENERAL DESCRIPTION During the Skylab Program, the Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives.was located in building and consisted of two rooms totaling 139 square meters 36 (1500 square feet). The primary room served as a central point and work area for receiving, processing, and distributing all experiment- and mission-related data. This area contained support contractor personnel desks, work tables, drafting tables, Data contained in this room consisted and numerous filing and storage cabinets. of strip charts, all the various daily reports and summaries, experiment reports and logs (which were used extensively maintain data flow), and status reports to on data quality during each phase Skylab mission. of the data digital tapes, processed data The second room was used to store raw Also, a working area was set up withmicrofilm, and selected Skylab documents. in this room for visiting Principal Investigators. It contained a desk, work table, strip-chart scanner, microfilm reader/printer, and a programable desk calculator. Operation of the data center was supervised by the NASA Life Sciences Directorate (LSD) medical data manager, supported by five contractor personnel. These included an assistant data manager, responsible for carrying out tasks assigned by the NASA data manager; a data clerk/typist, responsible for logging data, maintaining status charts, doing general typing and data filing; two and graphics data plotters, responsible for maintaining crew-health-trend charts and other selected presentation material; and a data messenger, respongraphic sible for the pickup, and distribution of all raw and processed data delivery, and reports. The data center was staffed one-shift operation, 5 days a week, unon a less otherwise required for special projects or unusual data processing. Another JSC contractor also supported data center by establishing, reviewthe ing, and processing requirements from the Principal Investigators new medical troubleshooting data-processing problems. and by assisting in 2

Original page 6

DISCUSSION The operation of the data center was initiated with the development of the following documents. 1. Skylab Medical Data and Calibration Management Plan, April 1973 2. Skylab Medical Requirements, April 1973 3. Skylab Medical Operations Reporting Plan, March 1973 4. Data Management Handling Standard Operating Procedures, June. 1973 The Skylab Medical Operations Reporting Plan served as a major guide and driving force because it outlined the data types to be generated, the general data flow, and the organization or individual responsible for each data item. The.plan identified the methods and forms to be used by all groups reporting on all data aspects from quick-look data transmittals to final data-evaluation reports. After the completion of the Skylab mission, all medically related data contained within the data center were summarized in the Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives catalog, including a brief description of all documentation, data, and reports. OPERATIONS The data center acted as central point for the coordination of preflight a and postflight baseline data sessions. As such, the data center maintained close contact with the Crew Training Office, the Principal Investigators and their representative, the Medical Data System experiment raw-data-recording personnel,. the Skylab Mobile Laboratory experiment raw-data-recording personnel, and the Computation and Analysis Division (CAD) data-processing personnel. This liaison ensured that acceptable baseline data were scheduled, generated, recorded, processed according to the established requirements, distributed to the appropriate investigators, and archived.for future research. Also, selected end-products or verified data were returned from the Principal Investigators for use in maintaining timeliness of data and for gross indications of each crewman's health forLSD and NASA Headquarters management. The data center served as the LSD coordinator for all data processing through the CAD. Coordination included the physical delivery, pickup, and distribution of data products, maintenance of data-processing status, verification of acceptance by the Principal Investigators, and management of any necessary reprocessing software changes modifications based on final output data analor ysis by the Principal Investigators. 3

Original page 7

Major off-line software changes were submitted to the CAD through the use of a formal Software Change Request. The Software Change Request was approved for submittal to the CAD through either a division- or a directorate-level signature, depending on the extent of the change and the potential effect on programing and processing schedules. Minor changes with little or no schedule impact were handled at the branch level. As part of the data-processing function, the data center also served as coordinator between the Medical Experiments Hardware project engineers and the Test Division Instrumentation Integration Branch to ensure that all hardware These calibrations included each piece calibrations were processed and current. of individual equipment in the one-g trainer, in the Skylab Mobile Laboratory, and in the Skylab orbital workshop. These calibrations were necessary for proper data processing by the CAD. Final data verification was performed by each respective Principal Investigator or his representative and reported to the data center through the use of the Experiments Data Collection Report (fig. 1). If the data were not accepted, this report briefly outlined the necessary corrective action. Selected medical parameters from each experiment run were verified by the Principal Investigators and reported on the Experiments Data Summary Report (fig. 2). These parameters were summarized, transmitted to the crew surgeon by the data center, and plotted on crew-health-trend charts for use by the Medical Management Team. The data center served as a central coordinator for all data flow during the preflight and postflight phases of each mission. A typical data flow is illustrated in figure 3. Duplicate copies of all data distributed were maintained in the Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives for future use. Current charts and logs were maintained throughout each phase of the data flow to allow visibility of the overall transfer and distribution of data. The data center maintained close liaison with the Mission Control Center medical staff support room, the mission surgeon, and the Medical Management Team during the flight phase of each mission. The staff support room served as the central point of contact during the flight portion of the mission; however, the data center maintained active role in keeping the data flow curan rent, in distributing data'outputs, in ensuring proper data verification or validation by the Principal Investigators or principal coordinating scientists, and in implementing any necessary processing corrections. In addition, this effort included maintaining the crew surgeon's medical data log, which contained a daily chronological tabulation of selected medical parameters from each experiment; reviewing all data-processing status with the medical staff support room and the Principal Investigators to ensure rapid distribution and validation of the data; and supporting Medical Management Team through the daily the maintenance and updating of crew-health-trend charts (fig. 4). 14

Original page 8

The crew-health-trend charts consisted of individual graphic plots of selected medical parameters (.for each experiment and for each crewman) for quick of any significant changes from a preflight range. Two sets identification charts were used during the mission. One set was on permanent disof 18 trend in the Mission Control Center medical team conference room, and the dupliplay was used as a master copy for weekly photographic reproduction. cate set second and third manned missions, nine additional color charts were During the these charts combined data for all crewmen and all missions to maintained; show a direct and immediate comparison between individuals and missions. These charts were also photographically reproduced each week. Specifically for LSD management use, the data center coordinated special computer data processing of.,each individual hardware experiment run. graphic Copies of the trend charts and of the special computer processing were routinely delivered to the LSD office and mailed to NASA Headquarters every week throughout the preflight, inflight, and postflight phases of all missions. These crew-health-trend charts and the computer-processed graphics data served as very useful tools not only for delineating crew performance during a test but also for depicting scheduling and data-flow problems and status. Based on the successful operation of the Medical Data Center and Archives during each Skylab mission and the massive amount of data accumulated, a catalog was completed at the end of the Skylab Program. The catalog identifies and describes the Skylab medical experiments and all related data presently archived in the data center. The catalog includes, but is not limited to, all related documentation of the mission, requirements, hardware specifications, and operational procedures; it also outlines the procedure for researchers to request data for use and study. Because the potential for this centralized medical data research area is so great, plans for expansion are being considered. Areas for expansion include researching and obtaining medical data from past space-flight programs as well as planning for continued active operation during all future programs. CONCLUDING REMARKS The Skylab Medical Data Center and Archives was established before the Program to provide a central repository for-space-flight medical data. Skylab Data contained in the center include strip charts, all the various daily reports and summaries, experiment reports and logs on data flow, and status reports on data quality for each phase of the Skylab Program. In addition, raw data tapes, processed data microfilm, and other selected Skylab documents digital are housed in the data center. The data center acted as a central point for the coordination of preflight and postflight baseline data. During the Skylab the data center also served as the Life Sciences Directorate coordi- Program, nator for all data processing through the Computation and Analysis Division. The center -also coordinated the Medical Experiments Hardware project engineers 5

Original page 9

and the Test Division Instrumentation Integration Branch. Based on the successful operation of the data center during each Skylab mission and the massive amount of data accumulated, a catalog was completed to identify and describe and all related data presently archived in the data Skylab medical experiments center. Plans are being considered to expand the data center to include researching and obtaining medical data from past space-flight programs and setting up operation for all future programs. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Houston, Texas, December 20, 1974 948-90-90-89-72 6

Original page 10

1. Experiment ID: M092 : M093 2. Mission: SL-2 ; SL-3 ; ; M131- ; M171 ; Other SL-4 _ ; Other 3. Phase: Preflight ; Inflight ; Postflight 4. Subject ID: 1 CDR ; 2 SPT 4 CDR- ; 5 SPT Other 5. Date of Experiment: ; 3 PLT (Prime Crew) ; 6 PLT (Backup Crew) Run No. .6. Experiment data acceptable: Yes No If no, complete Items 7, 8, 9, and 10 listed below. 7. Equipment or measurement anomalies: 8. Procedural anomalies: 9. Data processing anomalies: 10. Recommended corrective action to Items'7, 8, and 9: Reference No. Signature, PCS Date Signature, Mission Manager Figure-l.- Experiments Data Collection Report.

Original page 11

Subject ID CDR SPT PLT M092 Subject Name: Test Start Time: SL- PI/PCS Signature, Date Test Julian Day Report Time (MSC Local OPERATIONAL VERIFIED DATA SUMMARY Test (Control Phase) Mean Heart Rate Mean Syst/Diast BP Max. LBNP AP (-50 mmHg- Period 4) Mean Heart Rate Mean Syst/Diast BP Recovery Phase (Period 5) Mean Heart Rate Mean Syst/Diast BP BPM mmHg BPM mmHg BPM. mmHg Waveform Data (ECG) (Event of Arrh hmia During Test) Uplink Medical Data Log Max. LBNP AP (-50 mmHg- Period 4) Mean ALeg Volme Resting Left Leg Calf Circ. Comment - Y Inches Reference No. Signature, Mission Manager I Date Figure 2.- Experiments Data Summary Report.

Original page 12

a. Digital tape Medical b. Strip chart experiment b c. Voice log data generation d. Calibration and collection e. Raw data tab CAD a. Analysis microfilm data 0 b. Trend mitrofilm processing c. Computer tape Trend microfilm Principal Investigator/ Medical Data a. Digitaltape Center b. CDigitalib tape . ration Archives Medical Data a. Analysis microfilm Center b. Computer tape Archives Medical principal coordinating a. Experiments Data Collection Report Data a. Trend chart scientist b. Experiments Data Summary Report Center b. Surgeon's log analysis and verification c. Final report LSD/Headquarters management Archives Figure 3.- Typical data flow during each Skylab mission.

Original page 13

O MSS)CN - ~ 504arvlnn CREWID i, PARAMETER5 54 5 5, . f IN I i MQ14 1111- ti Ri0o-i t4 ... . . ... ... m -as t i- *W55 . 500 Rio,UN.W 0 - .5 , 9T )... i , - oo i-' i 1 3aoo1 ... .00 -4- 4r TOTEI.pC T9)1 + fvw. 0'iiffifmli T,4- rr - -- 5 7- " ) I. , .. . - (I Ir l L0 ,. .!. ... 14 -" . - I L; i_: .E 1 t I 1 --------..-- I I t 4 4+f i ,i Figure h Skylab crew health trend chart. (n" >L 0C Fgr4 SklbR nlhte chr