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In an article on the Space.com website, the author states "Very few astronauts have what's called the 'lead head'--immune from space adaptation syndrome or space sickness."

I couldn't find any other references to this term doing basic searches. Did astronauts, or NASA use this term? Has this term been mentioned in any sources not connected to that article?

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    $\begingroup$ Is that handbook available online, or at least to the general public in some form? $\endgroup$
    – Bob516
    Commented Jun 14, 2019 at 2:31
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    $\begingroup$ It's fairly short, I'll put it on my list of documents to scan and upload to archive.org. Will report back when done. $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented Jun 14, 2019 at 2:49
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    $\begingroup$ I found a pdf, no scanning required. It's online at ia601403.us.archive.org/24/items/spacetalk/spacetalk.pdf $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented Jun 14, 2019 at 12:40
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    $\begingroup$ I must admit, when I saw the section title and document title in your original content, I thought it was a clever joke. Nope. It actually exists. $\endgroup$
    – Tristan
    Commented Jun 14, 2019 at 17:36
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    $\begingroup$ Never heard the subject term, "lead head" used in this context (I was in the Office from 1996-2004, inclusive). It was said, however, that, "You pay going up, or you pay coming back, nobody flies in Space for free." Meaning: although there were those who never got SAS, they had an acutely rough time re-adapting to Earth after the flight...I'm aware of this being true in several situations... $\endgroup$
    – Digger
    Commented Jun 15, 2019 at 15:22

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Long time, no answer, so I'll take a stab at it...please be aware that all of my "evidence," while purely anecdotal, is first hand.

I never heard the subject term, "lead head" used in this context (I was in The Office from 1996-2004, inclusive). It was frequently said, however, that, "You pay going up, or you pay coming back, nobody flies in Space for free."

Meaning: although there were those who never got Space Adaptation Sickness (SAS), many (if not all) of these seemingly lucky folks had an acutely rough time re-adapting to Earth after the flight...I'm aware of this being true in several situations (manifesting itself in vomiting and/or dehydration severe enough to require IV transmission of fluids).

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