In addition to physiological research on the acute and chronic responses (adaptations) to microgravity, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Don Doerr, the former Chief of Biomedical Engineering at KSC. In this capacity, I participated in the test and development of various operational ensembles and self-contained air breathing apparatuses that enabled development of safety support and guidelines for KSC personnel (e.g., hypergolic fuel handlers, firefighters) who required working in the extreme heat and humidity created by closed impermeable suits (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3 Convertino performing operational tests on an impermeable ensemble during rest (left panel) and physical exercise (right panel) conducted in the summer of 1988 in the Human Physiology Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center