MANNED SPACE FLIGHT introduces into space travel parameters that are unique. Man can live without food for a reasonably long period; without water, the period becomes quite a bit shorter; but without air, the result-almost instantaneous-is death. This would make the atmosphere the most important consideration. In fact, however, man needs all three components: oxygen, water, and food; and if anyone of them failS, he is doomed. With our space efforts approaching trips of several weeks in length and certainly heading for month-long journeys, it is most appropriate to ask: Are we ready to provide an adequate atmo spheric milieu for the astronauts? The present volume represents the first integrated attempt to answer this question on a scientific level and on a broad basis of physical and mechanical, biological, biochemical and medical factors. The main features of this work were presented at a symposium of the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, held in Atlantic City on Septem ber 13, 1965. The volume is an expanded and reorganized treatise based on, but not merely proceeding from, the symposium. Obviously, medical aspects are of paramount importance. A down-to-earth appraisal of the status quo, presented by Dr. E. M. Roth, shows that the problem of 100% oxygen atmosphere still is beset with some uncertainty in the 200 to 500 mm. total cabin pressure range. Additionally, attention is called to inherent dangers of greatly increased flammability in such an atmosphere.

Lists citations with abstracts for aerospace related reports obtained from world wide sources and announces documents that have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Database.

The issue of aircraft air quality is attracting considerable attention of late, as access to public air travel has expanded exponentially. Aircrew and passengers are increasingly concerned about operating and service decisions that could affect their health, comfort, and safety. The editor of this volume invited a wide range of experts to provide an in-depth treatment of virtually all aspects of aircraft cabin air quality. The topics are covered at a level comprehensible to all who fly as well as being of sufficient depth to be informative to decision makers concerned with purchase, design, operation, and servicing of passenger aircraft. Topics are grouped under: Control of Aircraft Cabin Air Quality; Possible Effects of Low Humidity, Decreased Outside Air Flows; and Effects of Some Aircraft Malfunctions on Cabin Air Quality. The volume concludes with Air Quality Systems for Related Enclosed Spaces, in which chapters cover air quality in buildings, ships, submarines, and spacecraft, which provide novel approaches potentially applicable to aircraft.

The Air Force has pursued research in areas of ground support and space cabin toxicology for the past 5 years. Comprehensive treatment of toxicological problems in both areas has revealed the necessity to define human tolerance limits to propellants and other toxic materials for various durations of exposure. Hence, an integrated input of propellant and space cabin material toxicology provides the basis for selection of habitable cabin atmospheres and materials selection criteria. Since such selection procedures are based on both biological and engineering considerations, one cannot disregard the materials selection aspect or evaluate closed system toxicology without consideration of source. The toxic materials in space system atmospheres are determined primarily by the qualitative and quantitative composition of space cabin equipment and the contribution of contaminants by the crew. Materials selection and analytical studies on gas-off products are key considerations in controlling toxic contaminants in a space cabin. Methods are described to determine the composition of cabin materials gas-off products and to biologically test these compounds for their toxicological effects. An attempt is made to correlate the roles of the materials analytical chemist and the toxicologist as a working team to provide meaningful and useful materials selection criteria.

A selection of annotated references to unclassified reports and journal articles that were introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system and announced in Scientific and technical aerospace reports (STAR) and International aerospace abstracts (IAA).