Today's day started off, once again, bright and early. Kay and I were going to go through physiological training and take a ride on the hyperbaric chamber. Our returning team members warned us that it would be a gaseous day (more explanation to come later), and therefore to not drink or eat anything acidic. Since we had to leave earlier than the rest of the team there was no Starbucks for us! (considering we are some of the most Starbucks-loving team members, this was a very unfortunate event.)
Arriving at Gilruth Center, where our training would take place, the morning was filled with about 4 hours of lecture to educate and prepare us for all the fabulous things associated with hypoxia (lack of oxygen to your body) and ascending and descending to such great heights. In an effort to stay awake the whole time (our only necessity) we made a pact to kick each other if we were going to attempt to catch a few zzz's. Mission accomplished.
Afterwards we waited for our professor to pick us up to give us a ride back to the hangar. At least he likes us enough to get us! (just kidding!) We ate a lunch - cautiously - of healthy and non-acidic items as we mentally prepared to take a ride in the hyperbaric chamber.
Next thing we knew, we were off to the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) with the rest of the new team members for one of the coolest tours I think any of us have been to yet.
As we had finished seeing the pool, Kay and I were divided from the pack and sent to begin briefing for the chamber flight. Nervously, we sat down in a classroom with 16 other chamber participants. This is where the real fun began.
Kay and I were the first to be given and fitted for our helmets and oxygen masks. As you can see, they are quite attractive and most definitely, Tim Gunn approved!
We sat in the classroom waiting to find out when our doom would come. They told us we could take a bathroom break, and knowing of all the warnings of the chamber, we thought that was a great idea. Kay and I were given our helmets first and thought we needed to keep them on, so we wore them to the bathroom. As we walked down the hall, we ran into a few people who gave us some funny looks, and soon realized that we were the goofballs who didn't realize we could have taken them off the whole time! Oops!
Our instructor then went over (again) about what would happen in the chamber and necessary safety procedures. Included in the safety, since we would be breathing 100% oxygen, we were told to clean off our faces of any make-up (because of petroleum) and lip balm. Our instructor handed out what were alcohol wet wipes. Me, being the genius that I am, afraid of flames on my face because of my chapstick, hesitantly wiped my face with the alcohol wipe. Kay soon laughed at me, reminding me I only had to wipe off the mask, but proceeded to wipe her face off to make me feel better for my blonde moment. Thanks Kay!
We were given our seat numbers and then sent off to the chamber. Me, seat 5, Kay, seat 7 - thank goodness we got to sit next to each other.
The ride on the chamber...
As we entered the hyperbaric chamber, we sat down on our cushy benches and connected our oxygen tube and headsets. Our guides checked to make sure none of us had any leaks in our masks and we then sat for the first 30 mins at "ground level" breathing 100% oxygen to denitrogenate. We ascended 5000 ft per min until we reached 250FL, or 25000 ft. During this time, since the gases and pressure levels are changing, there is also a change of gases inside your body. Remember the 'don't eat anything acidic' comment? Yep. The gas inside your body expands about 3.5 times the size it is at ground level. Whether it comes out your mouth or rear, we were told to just let it go! Holding it in might cause pain, but we were also reminded that lifting your cheek more than 25 degrees was considered an offensive maneuver. Since Kay had previously farted near me the day before, I was not surprised when she started leaning away from me too! No worries though, I allowed plenty to go her way too! This was nothing to be embarrassed about though because we were all suffering equally.
Based on regulations, we are only allowed to experience hypoxia for 5 min. The first 8 of us were told to take our masks off so that the other half could watch. About a minute in, we were given a quiz with simple, 5th grade level tasks, from naming recent presidents to simple math and writing your name backwards. After our five minutes and when we had gained normal oxygen levels, the other half took of their masks so we could watch them. Some of the effects of hypoxia include being light headed, nausea, euphoria, tingling, and confusion. It can be compared to feeling a bit drunk - except free, and no hangover! The importance of the activity was to know how you personally, and to see how others, react to hypoxia. After, we returned to the classroom to watch a video of ourselves. Back to the quiz, Kay and I were both very intent on working on it, but ironically, neither of us barely wrote anything down. Sometimes you forget what you did at minute 1 by minute 5... It was a great experience, and neither of us can wait until next week when we fly in the real plane.
For the rest of the day, we were told to take it easy on exercise and physical activity. Kay and I also had a reasonable excuse to not hold in our flatulence while still being ladylike. What an exciting day!
-Stephanie
