Fisiología Del Vuelo.

Written by Dr. Haraldo J. A. von Beckh, an Austrian physician who served in the Luftwaffe and continued his aeromedical research in Argentina after WWII. Billed as the first book from South America on space medicine and the physiological aspects of spaceflight.

In his Prólogo the author sets out to survey the whole field of acceleration, its biological effects and the protective measures devised so far, addressing physicians, pilots and parachutists as well as anyone engaged in fast sport or travel. Four parts treat linear accelerations (crash prevention, harnesses, parachuting, ejection seats and J. P. Stapp’s rocket-sled experiments), radial accelerations (centrifuges, grey-out, blackout and red-out, anti-G suits), angular and Coriolis accelerations, and zero gravity, including V-2 and Aerobee rocket experiments and the author’s own parabolic and vertical-dive flights.

Two annexes cover motion sickness (cinetosis) and the physiological aspects of space flight, from escape velocity and weightlessness to the spacecraft’s microclimate, Chlorella algae as an oxygen source, cosmic radiation and meteorite impact. A forward look at vertical takeoff, a comparative historical table, bibliography and index follow. Each legitimate copy was numbered and signed by the author; this is copy no. 656, hand-signed by von Beckh. Editorial Alfa announces a companion volume in preparation, El factor humano en vuelos de alta cota.