Spaceflight vehicles designed for human habitability must follow design considerations that accommodate the daily functions of the astronauts living onboard, including dining, sleep, hygiene and waste management, and other activities to ensure an efficient and healthy environment.
The NASA-STD-3001 Volume 2 acoustic standards ensure an acceptable acoustic environment to preclude noise-related hearing loss, preclude interference with communications, and support human performance. The standards are organized by mission phase due to the unique differences in noise levels and purposes of the standards. The launch, entry, and landing phases generate a great amount of noise caused by the combustion process in the rocket engines, engine jet-plume mixing, unsteady aerodynamic boundary-layer pressures, and fluctuating shockwaves. These phases also generate significant levels of infrasonic and ultrasonic acoustic energy. This short-term noise exposure normally does not exceed 5 minutes of continuous duration. The main focus of controlling noise during this phase of flight is on protection of crew hearing and preservation of critical communications capability.During on-orbit, lunar, or extraterrestrial planetary operations phases when engines are inactive, the focus shifts from protecting crew hearing to ensuring adequate communications, alarm audibility, crew productivity, and habitability. Therefore, the maximum allowable sound levels are lower than those required for launch and entry.
Acoustics PDF
The design of human-inhabited spacecrafts, spacesuits, and equipment mustaccommodate for the physical size, shape, reach, range of motion, an …