The colonization of outer space has begun. There are still many challenges to overcome to get more people into space and improve technologies to facilitate this expansion, yet this is an exciting time to be involved with the Aerospace industry. One of the most immediate challenges to overcome is astronaut sleep quality and quantity.
This is where Artisans Custom Mattresses comes in to change the game.
Nasa’s development of Memory Foam specific for use in space, is all the argument a Spacer needs to immediately put it at the top of their necessary equipment list. Memory Foam’s three most relevant characteristics include its ability to allow your body to expel heat through it, that it does not exert counter pressure on the sleeper like spring beds do, and that it significantly dampens vibrations.
Tempur-Pedic’s heat activated visco-elastic Memory Foam is an open celled material. This means that there is little ‘windows’ between each tiny bubble or cell. This is a key factor in allowing heat to pass through the mattress and most importantly away from the sleeper. The second point is relevant because it means you can sleep with a tool in you pocket and not even notice its there. This is possible because Tempur-Pedic beds do not exert counter pressure on the sleeper. This is where the ‘heat activated visco-elastic’ aspect of the material comes into effect. It behaves in a melting away from heat and pressure points fashion. Testing in VA hospitals proved to reduce bed sores by 80%. Bed sores develop from heat and pressure. Also, due to its conforming nature, we can also use it to restrain a Spacers position during micro gravity missions in outer space, without inhibiting circulation. A third impressive characteristic of Memory Foam is its vibration dampening system. Most people remember Tempur-Pedic’s TV commercial of a person jumping up and down on the bed next to a glass of wine that barely wiggles.
Artisans Custom Mattresses has been working with Tempur-Pedic memory foam since 1999. That wealth of experience has taught us how Memory foam preforms in as many situations as you can imagine. Our Artisans have more relevant experience customizing Tempur-Pedic than any other firm on this planet. This experience has led us to have many specific insights into how to effectively utilize this space age material in outer space environments.
Commercial Partners
We are excited to work with the aerospace industry. We will be approaching private companies such as Space X, Blue Origin, and other aerospace industry clients, that are working on human spaceflight programs. Due to our highly customizable designs, and per-mission specific parameters, we believe we are uniquely suited to support the aerospace space industry. Our space beds include our long-term study to improve our designs. We look forward to working with you to develop a system to track astronauts sleep patterns and feedback to constantly improve on our designs. This is our commitment to excellence, and the closer we work together the better sleep quality and quantity we can achieve.
Micro-Gravity Missions
Zero-Gravity may sound like you would expect to feel weightless and just float, this is not entirely accurate. Specifically for orbital missions the Astronauts are free falling at all times. Due to your momentum speeding around the planet, it is only slightly noticeable and normally goes away after a couple days. This is relevant for sleeping Spacer because they will wake up pushed to one side of their ‘bed’ due to Micro Gravity. NASA’s use of a ‘sleeping bag’ style of sleeping containment is the current solution for mission goals. We believe there is much room for improvement. As skilled Artisans we see many details that would greatly improve sleep conditions for the outer space environment. To begin with, we see improvements that will significantly maximize sleep quality including space pillows, containment ‘sleeping bag’, and the straps utilized. To be clear, we foresee a complete redesign of the current sleep system. For a more details please contact us, we are happy to participate in your Astronaut Health and Wellness program development.
The Need for the sleep containment system to add to sleep quality is self-evident. It is not within the scope of this briefing to extol the virtues, and need, for quality sleep. Should you be unfamiliar with the significant impact on performance insomnia may have on a person, I suggest looking into it. As a largely preventable issue, it could mean the difference between mission failure and success. Just ask yourself: in an emergency, how would you perform if you had barely slept for a week?
Astronaut Quote:
“Every time that I got into it and closed my eyes I feel like falling. Now I have learned that I string out my sleeping bags like a hammock and make it as tight as I can and then I get in it and zip it up and use those Velcro® straps and make it as tight as I can. I need to feel like I am tied down to something touching something, or I feel like I am falling and it will wake me up” (NASA, 2001). From: Human Research Program Website: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/sleep_accomodations_technical_brief_ochmo.pdf
Mission Specific Designs
Artisan’s 26 years of experience has taught us what memory foam’s strengths and weaknesses are. We have learned what is required to get the most out of our products that are designed for the most challenging environments on Earth, and soon outer space. This experience is what separates us from everyone else. Include our ability to rapidly build prototypes and new iterations, and we are the clear choice to help you achieve your goals. For more information, please contact us.
The Launch Lounge
This is our flagship design for launch conditions and the micro gravity environment of Earth orbit. We have preliminary designs that will meet many of the mission specific goals of attaining orbit and sleeping in outer space. This design has many features and variables included to maximize the effectiveness of our design. Also, as commercialization of space continues, more spacers in less than peak physical condition will be wanting to explore outer space. For these casual adventures a pressure relieving, vibration mitigating, launch position is crucial. Especially when considering the vibrational forces at work for launch vehicles such as Space X’s Starship. For more information, please contact us.
Space Station Beds
Our experience combined with your specifications will create the best possible sleep system beds for micro-gravity environments. This is one of the easier designs for us to create. We can limit many variables due to the specific requirements for the long-term mission. Again, there are key variables to consider for this specific design that only Artisan’s has the experience and knowledge to circumvent or account for. For more information, please contact us.
Moon Missions
There are many variables to consider when designing a sleep system for the moon’s environment. Most of these details are not obvious or easily predicted. Yet, Artisans has learned these details well and it is this expertise that our partners will find invaluable. We have preliminary designs to maximize astronauts’ comfort and sleep quality for this specific lower gravity situation. For more information, please contact us.
Mars Missions
When sending beds this far out in our solar system, it is vital that the mattress is of the highest quality to maximize its cost to benefit ratio. Again, this is where the Tempur-Pedic company shines as the gold standard of memory foam products. Our preliminary designs take on important details that were hard earned through Artisans’ 26 years of experience. For more information, please contact us.
”The manager of the Behavioral Health and Performance Element Human Research Program Space Medicine Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Lauren Leveton, Ph.D., points out the importance of the impact of sleep loss to the crew. “When you consider the risky business of spaceflight,” said Leveton, “We want to reduce the risk of performance decrements and optimize people’s performance capabilities.” by Jessica Nimon
International Space Station Program Science Office
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/Sleep_Long.html
Thank you NASA
NASA is truly unparalleled in its technological development abilities. We believe it’s time to bring one of their best products back home where it originally came from. Where it can make the most difference and be significantly impactful on today’s human space flight program. We are honored for the opportunities that NASA has provided us with and look forward to returning the favor by massively improving sleep quality in the micro-gravity environments of outer space. Thank you, NASA, for giving us the opportunity to create the world’s best Outer Space bed.
Thank you for your time. All inquiries are welcome, please Contact Us!
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