Body temperature measurement on the Apollo Missions

[DoctorTea]

How did Houston/Mission Control and/or the Astronauts themselves monitor the body temperature of the astronauts while they were moon walking. What temperature measurements of any kind were made from the lunar surface during the Apollo Missions? Thanks in advance for the answer(s) space enthusiast friends. DoctorTea

[chrlzs]

Medical thermistors were used as part of the bio-telemetry, see:
http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/books/apollo/s6ch3.htm

The astronauts themselves simply reported their comfort levels and adjusted their suit cooling system controls accordingly.

In regard to lunar surface temperature readings (you can't usefully measure the temperature of a vacuum..), they deployed a range of thermocouples, see here for a discussion:
http://www.workingonthemoon.com/WOTM...lEnvrnmnt.html

[DoctorTea]

I understand that about taking a vacuum's temperature(or more precisely, there not being any real meaning to the term here), but what was the temperature in the space ship, the LM. Aldrin said they were super cold when they were trying to sleep on the moon after the walk. So how cold was the ship? What were the temperatures of the astronauts then when they were so very cold? Those guys in Houston are not going to let the astronauts go hypothermic and die without trying to figure out how cold they might be. What were the astronauts' temperatures? Were they not ever taken? They must have been!!!! That makes no sense!!!! Even if they felt OK it should have been checked. One can not infrequently be hot/cold without knowing it. They must have had to take their temperature at some point. The doctors would not let the astronauts go into those conditions without a way to measure their temp and begin to help them if they got hypothermic.



Thanks


DoctorTea

[DoctorTea]

PS, why am I only a junior member!!!??? Haven't I written enough already!!!????

DoctorTea

[kamaz]

but what was the temperature in the space ship, the LM.

the LM's average temperature varied between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (between 18.3 and 21.1 degrees Celsius) during lunar operations.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/apollo-spacecraft6.htm

Aldrin said they were super cold when they were trying to sleep on the moon after the walk.

Perception of temperature can be affected by a lot of things. E.g. lack of sleep and air humidity make one perceive the temperature to be lower than in reality.

PS, why am I only a junior member!!!??? Haven't I written enough already!!!????

DoctorTea

You need 100 posts to be promoted to Established. Not that post count really matters here

[Grashtel]

PS, why am I only a junior member!!!??? Haven't I written enough already!!!????

DoctorTea

No you haven't, you as of when I am replying need to post another 84 times to get to Established Member status, though people here tend not to pay much attention to post count/status level so its not worth rushing to get it.

[kamaz]

[In Apollo 11 LEM] The cabin temperature through the rest period was in the range of 61 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit or about 16 degrees Celsius. During the EVA prep at 108:38:36, Public Affairs reported to the press that the cabin temperature at that time was 61 degrees Fahrenheit, a comfortable teperature while their were working in the suits, but not when they were trying to sleep. For subsequent missions, ECA operating procedures were modified to produce a copmfortable cabin temperature of about 71-72 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://www.workingonthemoon.com/WOTM-Sleep.html

[DoctorTea]

OK, let's get real here. Take a look at Aldrin's description, say look at "Magnificent Desolation". These guys are cold, very cold, they cannot get comfortable. The fact that they feel subjectively cold does not mean they are hypothermic, but it may mean that. It may mean other things as well. They have been in a strange environment and no one knows what is going on with them. I assure you kamaz, the astronauts' flight surgeons want to know the temperature of Armstrong and Aldrin. Do mean to imply there are no contingency plans for hypothermia or other problems that would lead to the subjective sense of feeling so profoundly cold?????? With all due respect, and please do not misunderstand me, I do not mean to embarrass you, I not mean to pull rank on you here, but I am a physician with a special outside interest in the physiology of thermoregulation. Temperature measurements are a part of routine vital signs for a reason from the evaluation of someone with the common cold, to malaria, to a super exotic disease or condition acquired on the moon. If at that time, I am Buzz Aldrin's physician, I want to know his temperature. NOW!!! They only way to tell if he is hypothermic is to take his temperature. The only way to tell if he has a fever is to take his temperature. And as a matter of fact, were he to be that cold subjectively, he might actually have a fever, he might be septic(blood infection). They put the astronauts in quarantine for a reason. Let's get real here. The guys are cold, take their vital signs. NOW!!!! There are a million reasons, a bit of an exaggeration, but the reader gets the point, for these guys to get sick, especially after they just stepped back inside. They could be OK but perhaps the lander's heating mechanism was failing. TAKE THE LANDER'S TEMPERATURE!!! TAKE ALDRIN'S TEMPERATURE! What was it? This must have been done. There is no way that would not have happened. Absolutely no way. If they set out for the moon without any way to check an astronaut's temperature, then every negative utterance about NASA ever made by Feynman should be multiplied by a factor of a trillion because as harsh as he was, his words could in such a new light only be construed as insane and outrageous understatement. It would be either preposterous, or the height of incompetence. Read any account by Aldrin as to how cold he felt at that time. There had to be contingency plans for hypothermia, fever and other problems. Take the guys vital signs. I am sure Armstrong was trained to take Aldrin's and vice versa. What was his temperature? I mean seriously, is this a joke, and that question is asked with a completely straight face? Are you trying to joke with me, tease me? DoctorTea.

[Hornblower]

OK, let's get real here. Take a look at Aldrin's description, say look at "Magnificent Desolation". These guys are cold, very cold, they cannot get comfortable. The fact that they feel subjectively cold does not mean they are hypothermic, but it may mean that. It may mean other things as well. They have been in a strange environment and no one knows what is going on with them. I assure you kamaz, the astronauts' flight surgeons want to know the temperature of Armstrong and Aldrin. Do mean to imply there are no contingency plans for hypothermia or other problems that would lead to the subjective sense of feeling so profoundly cold?????? With all due respect, and please do not misunderstand me, I do not mean to embarrass you, I not mean to pull rank on you here, but I am a physician with a special outside interest in the physiology of thermoregulation. Temperature measurements are a part of routine vital signs for a reason from the evaluation of someone with the common cold, to malaria, to a super exotic disease or condition acquired on the moon. If at that time, I am Buzz Aldrin's physician, I want to know his temperature. NOW!!! They only way to tell if he is hypothermic is to take his temperature. The only way to tell if he has a fever is to take his temperature. And as a matter of fact, were he to be that cold subjectively, he might actually have a fever, he might be septic(blood infection). They put the astronauts in quarantine for a reason. Let's get real here. The guys are cold, take their vital signs. NOW!!!! There are a million reasons, a bit of an exaggeration, but the reader gets the point, for these guys to get sick, especially after they just stepped back inside. They could be OK but perhaps the lander's heating mechanism was failing. TAKE THE LANDER'S TEMPERATURE!!! TAKE ALDRIN'S TEMPERATURE! What was it? This must have been done. There is no way that would not have happened. Absolutely no way. If they set out for the moon without any way to check an astronaut's temperature, then every negative utterance about NASA ever made by Feynman should be multiplied by a factor of a trillion because as harsh as he was, his words could in such a new light only be construed as insane and outrageous understatement. It would be either preposterous, or the height of incompetence. Read any account by Aldrin as to how cold he felt at that time. There had to be contingency plans for hypothermia, fever and other problems. Take the guys vital signs. I am sure Armstrong was trained to take Aldrin's and vice versa. What was his temperature? I mean seriously, is this a joke, and that question is asked with a completely straight face? Are you trying to joke with me, tease me? DoctorTea.

At the time I thought that their vital signs were being monitored continuously, with suitable sensors attached to their bodies and hooked up to the telemetry. Do you have any evidence to the contrary?

[kamaz]

The book chapter linked in #2 says that astronaut's body temperature was monitored and transmitted back to Earth real-time. It even explains how it was done. Did you read it?

[DoctorTea]

I am not an Apollo expert. I am a doctor. Of course they had plans, methods for taking somebody's temperature and good ones. They would have had to. Under these circumstances this would be more important than knowing the astronaut's pulse even. In medicine, generally, right off the bat, we want heart rate, respiration rate, temperature blood pressure. Those four things, automatically. Then we go from there. We can tell a lot with those four numbers and looking at someone or having a description if that is not possible. VITAL SIGNS! CRITICAL!!!! IT IS OVER THE TOP MISSION CRITICAL. This is why I asked the question about the details, the logistics as to how this was done. Doctors would be worried sick about these guys, doctors with any sense; hypothermia, heat stroke, dehydration, electrolyte problems and this the tip of the iceberg, ever present, no matter how well they had planned, ever present, ever threatening. Let's both work on it and see what we can find out, shall we partner kamaz. I know a lot about this stuff, temperature stuff, perhaps I can teach you and you can teach me. OK?!!! Let's give it a shot!!! Best, and thanks for your post, DoctorTea

[ngc3314]

NASA has (as long as I can remember) been very careful to protect doctor-astronaut confidentiality, for a host of good reasons, so that the "private loop" discussions with physicians were not made public (at least at the time). Biotelemetry as being taken all the time (remember the big deal on Apolloi 13 when they got tired of it) but isn't as publicly available as other things.

By now there are some relevant documents available online:

Apollo 7 to 11 Medical Concerns and Results

and especially relevant: the chapter on Bioinstrumentation from the book Biomedical Results of Apollo. It gves detail, and lists as sensors worn by the astronauts:

Electrocardiogram Signal Conditioner

The ECG signal conditioner and electrodes were designed to provide inflight measurements of a crewmember’s ECG activity and to develop a signal wave ranging between 0 and 5 volts peak-to-peak, which is representative of crewman ECG activity. The unit was provided with an adjustment that permitted preflight calibrations. The electrical activity sensed by the body electrode was passed into the signal conditioner which had an input impedance of greater than 40 megohms, and common mode rejection greater than 100 000 to 1. The gain of the signal conditioners was continuously variable from 600 to 4500, and the output was the amplified ECG waveform which varied ±2.5 volts about a 2.5-V bias. Harmonic distortion was less than 1.0 percent over the unit’ls frequency bandpass of 0.2 Hz to 100 Hz. Signal conditioner power of plus and minus 10 VDC at .5 milliamperes was required from the DC to DC converter.

Impedance Pneumograph Signal Conditioner

The ZPN signal conditioner and electrodes were designed for measurement of a change in the transthoracic impedance to a low level current at a frequency of approximately 50 kHz. Measurement was obtained from a pair of electrodes that developed signals (0 to 5 volts peak-to-peak) corresponding to the respiration rate over a wide dynamic range of respiratory activity. The excitation circuit accommodated electrode impedance of 100 to 1000 ohms, and the signal conditioner input impedance was greater than 1 megohm at 50 kHz and greater than 60 megohms in the 0 to 100 Hz frequency range. The output had a range of 0 to 5 VDC with the respiration signal varying about a 2.5-V bias level. Power drain from the DC to DC converter plus and minus 10-V supply was less than 7 milliamps. This unit was also provided with adjustments to accommodate the characteristics of the individual.

Body Temperature System

The body temperature probe and signal conditioner produced an output voltage in the range of 0 to 5 VDC corresponding to sensed temperatures of from 303° to 319° K (85° to 115° F). The system accuracy was within ± 0.17 degree K (± 0.3° F) and had a response time to a 2.8° K (5° F) step change of five seconds. Power requirements were less than 5 milliamps from each of the DC to DC converter supply voltages.

There are links to the actual clinical aspects in a different chapter.

[DoctorTea]

Thanks to all. These posts are helpful.. Still curious as to what Aldrin's temp, Armstrong's temp was that night when they were so very cold after the walk. If anyone knows the number(s), please let me know. Best, DoctorTea.

[slang]

Try searching NTRS.

[DoctorTea]

I read the book kamaz. It was helpful. Thanks, DoctorTea

[neilzero]

Since the suit temperature was controlled manually, the astronaughts were likely trained to avoid over reacting to feelings of too hot or too cold. Did they sleep in their space suits inside the landed vehicle? If not, temperature perception is skewed somewhat at 5 or 6 psi instead of 14 psi. What was the pressure in the vehicle while landed on the Moon? Neil

[Peter B]

Since the suit temperature was controlled manually, the astronaughts were likely trained to avoid over reacting to feelings of too hot or too cold. Did they sleep in their space suits inside the landed vehicle?

Yes, for Apollos 11 to 14. For Apollos 15 to 17 they undressed and slept in their undergarments.

If not, temperature perception is skewed somewhat at 5 or 6 psi instead of 14 psi. What was the pressure in the vehicle while landed on the Moon? Neil

I'm not sure, but I believe it was around 5 psi, and IIRC it was the same in the suit.

Someone with the time to search the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal could probably find it somewhere.

[Swift]

Since the suit temperature was controlled manually, the astronaughts were likely trained to avoid over reacting to feelings of too hot or too cold. Did they sleep in their space suits inside the landed vehicle? If not, temperature perception is skewed somewhat at 5 or 6 psi instead of 14 psi. What was the pressure in the vehicle while landed on the Moon? Neil

Just an aside, but you do know the term "astronaught" is used by Hoax Belivers as a disparaging term, to show that they doubt they were really astronauts.