Essay/Term paper: The human eye in space

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Science

Human visual hardware is a result of a billion years
of evolution within the earths atmosphere where
light is scattered by molecules of air, moisture,
particular matter etc. However as we ascend into
our atmosphere with decrease density, light
distribution is changed resulting in our visual
hardware receiving visual data in different format.
Some Aspects to Consider: 1. Visual acuity is the
degree to which the details and contours of
objects are perceived. Visual acuity is usually
defined in terms of minimum separable.Large
variety of factors influence this complex
phenomenon which includes : # Optical factors-
state of the image forming mechanisms of the eye.
# Retinal factors such as the state of the cones. #
Stimulus factors such as illumination, brightness of
the stimulus, contrast between the stimulus and
background, length of time exposed to the
stimulus. * Minimum separable: shortest distance
by which two lines can be separated and still be
perceived as two lines. "During the day, the earth
has a predominantly bluish cast..... I could detect
individual houses and streets in the low humidity
and cloudless areas such as the Himalaya
mountain area.... I saw a steam locomotive by
seeing the smoke first..... I also saw the wake of a
boat on a large river in the Burma-India area...
and a bright orange light from the British oil
refinery to the south of the city (Perth,Australia.)"
The above observation was made by Gordon
Cooper in Faith 7 [1963] and which generated
much skepticism in the light of the thesis by
Muckler and Narvan "Visual Surveillance and
Reconnaissance from space vehicles" in which
they determined that a visual angle of ten minutes
was the operational minimum, and that the
minimum resolvable object length [M.R.O.L] at an
altitude of 113 miles would be 1730 ft. This
limitation of acuity was revised the next year to 0.5
seconds of arc for an extended contrasting line
and 15 seconds of arc for minimum separation of
two points sharply contrasting with the
background. Orbiting at 237 miles in the skylab it
was possible to see the entire east coast [Canada
to Florida Keys] and resolve details of a 500 feet
long bridge based on inference. Of Interest is the
fact that even though the mechanical eye [camera
systems] can resolve objects greater than fifty
times better than the human eye, without the
human ability to infer, interpretation of the data is
meaningless. Conclusion: Visual acuity in space
exceeds that of earth norm when objects with
linear extension such as roads, airfields, wake of
ships etc. 2. Stereoscopic vision: the perception of
two images as one by means of fusing the
impressions on both retinas. In space one has to
deal with a poverty of reference points. For
hardware evolved in a reference oriented
paradigm, this possess a grave problem. Once out
of the space craft and gazing outward, the eye can
only fix on the stars [without even a twinkle] which
for all practical purpose is at infinity ie. without
stereoscopic vision "Empty field myopia" prevails.
Empty Field Myopia is a condition in which the
eyes, having nothing in the visual field upon which
to focus, focus automatically at about 9 feet . An
astronaut/cosmonaut experiencing empty field
myopia focusing at 9 ft would be unable see
objects at a range close as 100 ft. If another
spacecraft, satellite, meteorite or L.E.M entered
his field of vision, he would not be able to
determine the size nor the distance. Solution: Man
does not face any hostile environment in his
birthday suit, the clothing industry and need for
walk in closet say it all. In space we will wear our
exoskeleton just as we wear winter jackets in
winter and we will wear our helmets with visors to
maintain our internal environment, filter out all
those nasty rads etc. Since Empty Field Myopia is
secondary to loss of reference points why not just
build them into the visor itself giving the eye points
of reference-- create a virtual reality ??? This line
of speculation leads to amazing concepts...... To
learn more about the concept of virtual universe in
the helmet read: Journal: Air & Space,
[smithsonian publication] article: Big Picture by
Steven L.Thompson. illustrated by Dale Glasgow.
About creation of virtual universe with new
computer and software tech in the helmets of F-16
fighter pilots-- this is not a theoretical possibility
but a reality. A MUST READ. Note: One aspect
of adaptation to microgravity [space sickness] is
an increased dependence on visual as opposed to
vestibular mechanisms in the stabilization of retinal
image during head movements only underscores
the importance in being aware of our visual ability.
3. PERCEPTION OF COLORS. Studies done
by the Russian cosmonauts on effects on
perception of colors in space suggests a reduction
in the perception of brightness of all colors. The
greatest degradation seem to affect purple, azure,
& green. 4. LIGHT FLASHES. Not the so-called
fireflies noted in orbital flights by astronauts
[shown graphically in the movie right stuff] but
lights as faint spots / flashes seen after dark
adaptation in the cabin of the Apollo missions.
Generally described as white/colorless and
classified as three types. # Described as "spots" /
"starlike" 66 % of the time. Appearing in both eyes
simultaneously or one eye at a time. # Described
as "streaks" 25 % of the time. # Described as
"lightning discharge seen behind clouds" 9 % of the
times. It was of interest that the very same
astronauts who reported them in the Apollo flights
failed to see them in previous Gemini flights. After
the Apollo flights this phenomena was noted by
the crew of all three Skylab missions especially
when they crossed the South Atlantic Anomaly.
W.Zachary Osborne, Ph.D., Lawrence Pinsky,
Ph.D., at University of Houston & J.Vernon
Bailey at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
conducted an investigation on this phenomena and
concluded that they were due to heavy cosmic
radiation penetrating thru the craft and impinging
on the retina to cause this phenomena of flashes.
The fact that this was noted only after the eyes
were darkadapted points to retinal interaction than
optic nerve per se.