Acceleration Environment Coordinate System Used in NASA-STD-3000

This system is based on the direction a body organ (e.g., the heart) would be displaced by acceleration. Table II in this figure (and in particular, system 4, which is based on displacement of body fluids) explains the most commonly employed terms.

Figure 5.3.1-1 (Part 1 of 2) Acceleration Environment Coordinate System Used in MSIS

Acceleration Environment Coordinate System in picture format

Reference: 101, NASA-STD-3000 436

Figure 5.3.1-1(Part 2 of 2) Acceleration Environment Coordinate System Used in MSIS

Reference: 380; NASA-STD-3000 435

Footnotes:
Large letter, G, used as unit to express inertial resultant to whole body acceleration in multiples of the magnitude of the acceleration of gravity.
Acceleration of gravity, g, = 980,665 cm/sec2 or 32.1739 ft/sec2.