The Anthropometry and Biomechanics Facility (ABF)
is located at the Johnson
Space Center in Houston, Texas. The ABF provides
anthropometry and biomechanical analysis and evaluation
expertise to the Habitability and Human Factors Office,
Extravehicular Activity Projects Office, Constellation
Office, and other internal and external organizations.
The
ABF is uniquely equipped to conduct a variety
of space biomechanics and ergonomics research studies
that deal with issues humans will encounter while
living, working, and exploring in space. Ground-based
research and testing are conducted in its heavily
instrumented laboratories. It is one of the very few
facilities in the world that has gathered both suited
and unsuited human strength data relevant to Earth,
Lunar and Martian gravity environments.
For example, ABF personnel have tested and evaluated
crew work procedures and equipment, spacesuit design,
Extravehicular Activities (EVA) and Intravehicular
Activities (IVA) human performance issues, EVA/IVA
tool design, and EVA/IVA crew-induced loads. The ABF
is also heavily involved in defining requirements
for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and is currently
conducting and supporting projects for evaluating
space suit and human performance data for future missions
to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Data gathered by the
ABF are used to improve crew living and working conditions
in order to enhance productivity and operational efficiency.
Facilities
The Anthropometry and Biomechanics Facility occupies
several rooms in Building 15 at the NASA Johnson Space
Center; these rooms are used for research and evaluation
tasks in the one-gravity environment. When needed,
the following NASA facilities are utilized for reduced
gravity research and testing:
