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Monday, May 10th, 2010
Technical Chair: Cheryl Bowman
5:45 Social / Networking Time
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Presentation – Exercising in Space: A Dynamic Research Problem
Gail P. Perusek, M.S.—NASA Glenn Research Center, Exercise Countermeasures Project Manager
Exercising in Space: A Dynamic Research Problem—Overview of the Exercise Countermeasures Project for NASA's Human Research Program – highlighting work being done at NASA’s Glenn Research center including an on-orbit investigation to develop more comfortable crew equipment for the International Space Station treadmills, ground simulations of microgravity and lunar locomotion and Extravehicular Activity, and Advanced Exercise Concepts for the new Lunar Electric Rover prototype (think next-generation Apollo lunar rover). Exercise is performed in space to help mitigate the detrimental physiological effects of spaceflight, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning. This is a top-level overview of the project for a general audience.
Gail Perusek received her B.S. with Distinction in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio Northern University (1989) and M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (2000) with a focus on Biomechanics. She is currently assigned to the International Space Station (ISS) and Human Research Project Office at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). She serves as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on several research projects related to Exercise Countermeasures and Crew Health in space and has been an active research collaborator with the Cleveland Clinic, Department of Biomedical Engineering since 1995. She led development of the Exercise Countermeasures Laboratory and the enhanced Zero-gravity Locomotion Simulator at NASA Glenn, which provides a unique ground-based simulation of zero-gravity and partial gravity exercise and locomotion for the development of exercise prescriptions and crew exercise equipment for long-duration space missions. Ms. Perusek is currently Principal Investigator of an on-orbit investigation being conducted on the International Space Station, to improve crew equipment worn by astronauts during treadmill exercise, for improved mechanical loading and musculoskeletal health in space.
Prior to her current assignment, she served as Manager of the Structural Dynamics Laboratory at NASA GRC, to deliver critical path ISS payload verification vibration testing, analysis, flight certification for flight readiness, Safety and Mission Assurance, and as Lead Project Engineer for aeropropulsion projects and facility research and technology including the Joint Strike Fighter, Advanced Subsonic Noise Reduction, and High Speed Research. She has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, abstracts, R&T Articles, and NASA Tech Briefs. She has 20 years of experience with NASA, and holds 2 U.S. Patents.