The Apollo 11 mission through the astronauts' heart rates.
The Apollo 11 mission through the astronauts' heart rates
On the Apollo 11 blastoff, “Neil Armstong’s rate was a little higher than
everybody else’s, because he’s in charge of everything—you expect his
adrenaline to be up,” reflects Dr. Ed Powers, the director of the aerospace
medicine residency program at the University of Texas Medical Branch
and a former NASA flight surgeon during the Shuttle era.
everybody else’s, because he’s in charge of everything—you expect his
adrenaline to be up,” reflects Dr. Ed Powers, the director of the aerospace
medicine residency program at the University of Texas Medical Branch
and a former NASA flight surgeon during the Shuttle era.
“He’s the guy ultimately responsible for flipping all the switches required
for launch—I would be surprised if his heart rate wasn’t higher than the others.”
for launch—I would be surprised if his heart rate wasn’t higher than the others.”
This chart of Armstrong's heart rate is in the biomedical section of the Apollo 11
Mission Report. NASA.
Mission Report. NASA.
The mission was hazardous and full of unknowns. And yet their heart rates
during the launch stayed reasonably normal: Armstrong’s was the highest,
at 110 beats per minute, Collins’ was 99, and Aldrin’s a low 88.
during the launch stayed reasonably normal: Armstrong’s was the highest,
at 110 beats per minute, Collins’ was 99, and Aldrin’s a low 88.
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