Space Sled is a device for providing controlled linear acceleration stimuli in the microgravity environment of orbital flight. The scientific objectives of the experiments which used Space Sled on the D-1 Spacelab mission were to study aspects of otolith organ (that is, that part of the inner ear which transduces linear accelerations) function and adaptation in weightlessness. Space Sled comprises electrical and mechanical sub-systems. The latter is made up of a carriage running on twin rails that are fixed to the floor of Spacelab. The assembly is 6 m long with a working section of 3.5 m. The seat accommodating the test subject can be mounted on the carriage in any of three orthogonal positions. The carriage is coupled by a flexible steel cable to a servo-controlled electric motor which is capable of producing a peak acceleration of 2 m/s2 and peak velocity of 2.4 m/s. In the event of failure of comprehensive safety circuits in the electrical sub-system, a mechanical snubber, of crushable honeycomb construction, limits the deceleration to 20 m/s2. Mechanical structures providing carriage guidance, Sled/Spacelab interfaces, carriage latching, motor mounting and cable tensioning are detailed in the paper.

中文翻译：

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太空雪橇——一种研究失重生理影响的装置

Space Sled 是一种在轨道飞行的微重力环境中提供受控线性加速度刺激的装置。在 D-1 太空实验室任务中使用太空雪橇进行的实验的科学目标是研究耳石器官（即内耳中转换线性加速度的部分）在失重情况下的功能和适应方面。Space Sled 包括电气和机械子系统。后者由在固定在 Spacelab 地板上的双轨上运行的小车组成。组件长 6 m，工作段长 3.5 m。容纳测试对象的座椅可以安装在托架上的三个正交位置中的任何一个。小车通过一根柔性钢缆连接到一个伺服控制的电动机上，该电动机能够产生 2 m/s2 的峰值加速度和 2.4 m/s 的峰值速度。如果电气子系统中的综合安全电路出现故障，可压碎蜂窝结构的机械缓冲器将减速限制为 20 m/s2。提供托架引导、Sled/Spacelab 接口、托架闩锁、电机安装和电缆张紧的机械结构在论文中有详细说明。