G-forces should be restricted to 3g if possible, 8g max (causes chest pain and loss of consciousness)
- Transverse application of g load is easiest to cope with, meaning astronauts should be lying down at take-off, not standing or sitting vertically, this will prevent blood from being forced away from the brain
- ‘Eyeballs-in’ application of g loads easier to tolerate than ‘eyeballs-out’ – astronauts should lift-off forwards (facing up) but re-enter backward (facing up)
- Supporting body in as many places as possible – contoured couch, built of fibreglass & moulded to suit the body of a specific astronaut settled on – using this can be subjected to loads of up to 20 g