been made. For transport accidents and for launch and recovery the only information available is from the limited prior space program activities and from projections for space shuttle operations. Substantially more work is needed to evaluate the data available and fill the gaps in the assessment. 2.7.2 Effects on Terrestrial Workers As with the effects on the public, a good deal of data is available upon which to evaluate incremental occupational health and safety effects from conventional processes. On the other hand, very little information is available to address occupational effects from unconventional activities, because prior analyses of space program activities have been aimed at trying to estimate the effects on the general public. The SPS program will, however, result in the involvement of a much larger work force in what has been considered a limited activity (e.g., launch and recovery) and will require the development of a broader data base upon which to measure occupational effects. 2.7.3 Effects on Space Workers Some of the effects of weightlessness appear to be an adaptation to an unusual situation for humans. Eventually for these effects, it appears that a new equilibrium, suitable to the weightless state, is established and maintained (note, however that only 3-5 astronauts have been in space as long as 84 days, thus there could be space workers who, for physiological reasons, could not adapt). Other effects such as spatial disorientation, anemia, and bone and muscle deterioration continue throughout space flight. These effects, if not ameliorated, could lead to major work and health problems both in and post flight. The NASA in-house and supported research programs may be adequate for researching these problems, but there is a need to assess them in relation to SPS for adequacy of funding and content. NASA has ongoing research on Life Support Systems related to other planned flights. This research covers most, if not all of the expected problems. This work needs to be assessed for adequacy with regard to the unique aspects of SPS. The hazards of magnetic and high voltage fields, plasma arcing, space debris and meteoroids have not yet been assessed. The effects of radiation depend a great deal on the length of stay in space. With the type of radiation particles that have been studied in
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