NASA needs volunteers to endure the Kraken at Wright-Patterson
May 1—The NASA Glenn Research Center is looking for a few good volunteers to weather a ride on the Kraken at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The "Kraken," or the the GL-6000 Disorientation Research Device, creates realistic motion simulations.
Overseen by Air Force and Navy human performance experts — yes, the Navy has a very active presence at Wright-Patterson — the Kraken has been described as a "spacial disorientation device." It's essentially a human-rated centrifuge.
Zachary Wilson, a spokesman for the Naval Medical Research Unit at Wright-Patterson, said in an email Wednesday the study is being run by Johns Hopkins University and is funded by NASA.
Wilson said his unit "is facilitating the effort through the use of our unique medical research capabilities to include our Disorientation Research Device (DRD), or 'Kraken.' Our Naval Aerospace Medicine Research Lab is recruiting volunteers (must be TRICARE beneficiaries) for the study."
"Are you active-duty military/a TRICARE beneficiary in or near Dayton?" the NASA Glenn Research Center recently asked on X. "If so, NASA needs you! We're recruiting volunteers to spin at 2.5G in the Kraken, a device that helps us study space motion sickness. Learn more, view study requirements, & apply today."
Questions about the study were sent to representatives of NASA.
NASA is looking for volunteers between the ages of 21 and 60, free of major medical conditions or vestibular issues who aren't pregnant, among other requirements.
Basically, NASA needs people who can withstand an hour of 2.5Gx exposure — that's 2.5 times the normal force of gravity experienced at sea level — in the Kraken.
Participants can receive up to $250 in gift cards plus an additional $50 gift card for completing the study. Volunteers must have an off‐duty status or be on leave to receive compensation, NASA noted.
Those interested in the study are asked to contact Darci Gallimore at darci.gallimore.ctr@us.af.mil by June 14, 2024.
