Simulation of astronaut perception of vehicle orientation during planetary landing trajectories

Abstract

Planetary landing requires the selection of a suitable landing zone followed by a stable, controlled descent to the surface. In crewed landings, astronauts are expected to play an active role in hazard identification, landing point selection, vehicle navigation, and supervision of automated systems. However, astronauts will have experienced sensorimotor adaptation during their microgravity exposure and may face unique landing conditions which could lead to inaccurate perceptions of vehicle orientation. A quantitative model of visual-vestibular integration was used to predict astronaut perceptions of vehicle orientation during various planetary landing trajectories, including altered gravity levels. The model predicted the potential for disorientation during specific portions of the landing trajectories when visual cues were not available. Astronaut spatial disorientation is also a concern for commercial crew, particularly as the number of landings increases. Our methodology allows for the early identification of trajectories or motions which may result in disorientation.