Multi-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (MASTIF)

Oh My Gosh a Multi-Axis Chair
Ana W

Three, Two, One and, oh my gosh, we are upside down in a Multi-Axis chair. This simulator is a chair that is surrounded by three huge circular tubes. Each of these tubes spins in one of three axes. The axes or directions of movement are, up and down, right to left and side to side. The chair was designed to teach Mercury Astronauts how to take their spacecraft under control using a joystick or flight hand controller during violent pitch roll and yaw movement. These movements are simulated in the chair with the up and down, right to left and side to side motions. I think I did fine on this simulator but I canÕt imagine trying to fly a Mercury capsule while going through that kind of motion. While in the chair you donÕt feel sick because each of the three axes pull and or push you in three directions or axes at the same time. As a result of taking you up and down, side to side and round and round each motion counteracts the force of the other motions. At first I was so scared I thought that I couldn't do it. Once I got on and the simulator started I felt like I was being pulled apart in three directions all at the same time. After I got off I felt really dizzy and had to sit down for a couple of minutes to regain my balance. Based on my experience in the Multi-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility I donÕt think I could have become a Mercury astronaut and fly in a Mercury capsule for three reasons. These reason are, I donÕt think I have the stomach it takes to train for a mission, I donÕt think I would enjoy being a public figure after traveling in space and I think I lack the drive it takes to push myself to work at completing a mission and ignoring everything else in my life. There is nothing quite like what I experienced on my simulation at space camps today, May 22, 2001.