Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!xanth!ukma!uflorida!haven!aplcen!aplcomm!stdc.jhuapl.edu!jwm
From: jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: 'Days' in Space
Message-ID: <3096@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu>
Date: 27 Jan 89 14:01:41 GMT
References: <Added.MXrSwIy00Ui3MCP09b@andrew.cmu.edu>
Sender: news@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu
Reply-To: jwm@aplvax.UUCP (Jim Meritt)
Organization: JHU-Applied Physics Laboratory
Lines: 43

In article <Added.MXrSwIy00Ui3MCP09b@andrew.cmu.edu> GILL@QUCDNAST.BITNET writes:
}Tom Neff writes:
}>Also, while we're busily discovering that each individual has his or
}>her very own favorite circadian interval, which eventually asserts
}>itself after enough time in the closet, we might take a moment to
}>wonder how a CREW functions together under those circumstances.  There
}<is going to be *work* to be done on the way out and back, and plenty of
}<it too (or else we're not getting our money's worth from the ruinously
}>expensive mission).  Work requires schedules, especially when you're
}>doing things like occultations and timed measurements.
}
}     But that is really the whole point of what I am advocating.  The
}astronauts will be there, on the scene, and they must be at the top of
}their efficiency.  The mission planners should go out of their way to
}design the trip so that this will happen, and if this includes changing
}the length of the day, so be it.  Perhaps designing a scaling schedule
}that will lengthen the day slowly over the first two weeks and shorten
}it back to 'Mars Standard Time' just before orbit, and so on.  If the
}astronauts can work on a day that is 10% longer, then perhaps there will
}also have to be 10% less food for the trip.  (I know, I'm pushing things
}a bit with that one.)  But anything to increase efficiency is a bonus and
}must be looked in to.  Regarding the 24 hour cycle as God-given is
}coming very close to being xenophobic.
}
}     However, the only people with any kind of experience in that regard
}are the Soviets. 


I do not believe that you are correct.  We have a great deal of experience
with "large" crews functioning under very trying conditions requiring
exacting performance with NO "sunlight", with different people working
at different periods around the clock.  Quit thinking "above the 
atmosphere" and think "below the atmosphere".  Ballistic Missle Submarines
perform under those conditions, and do not surface from the start of their
patrol untill months later.  And they never can "stop" or they die.
(somebody has to keep the engines and life support going!)

(I posted something like this before, but was amazed at the number of folks
that mailed "What is SSBN?"!!!)


Disclaimer:  "It's mine!  All mine!!!"   
					- D. Duck