On Orbit and Beyond by Douglas A. Vakoch

Author:Douglas A. Vakoch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg

But long-duration stays aboard an orbital space station represent but one step in the evolution of human space exploration, which also aims at much more ambitious endeavors (e.g., an outpost on the Moon or an expedition to Mars), and these can produce serious psychological and interpersonal consequences. For example, even though some aspects of Mars missions are shared by other settings (e.g., long-duration stays on orbital space stations, historical expeditions to unknown parts of the Earth, wintering-over in Antarctica), there are major differences, mostly associated with the enormous distances involved and the long mission duration (Kanas and Manzey 2008). According to currently discussed mission scenarios, a mission to Mars may last up to 3 years. Depending on the distance between the Earth and Mars and their relative orbital positions, a one-way audio or video transmission between these two planets may take some 22 min to accomplish. As a consequence, no real time two-way communication will be possible. Furthermore, there will be no possibility for emergency re-supply or rescue flights. As a consequence, crews on a Mars mission will be exposed to a much higher level of autonomy and long-term confinement and isolation than any previous space crew. At the same time, most strategies of ground-based support that currently are used to foster crew morale and psychological well-being during orbital space missions will be ineffective during expeditions to Mars. This may not only increase the psychological risks related to individual crewmember performance, but it also will produce new psychological challenges never before experienced. One of these challenges has been referred to as the “Earth-out-of-view phenomenon” and is related to the fact that astronauts traveling to Mars will be the first human beings put in a situation where their home planet will be reduced to an insignificant-looking dot in space (Kanas and Manzey 2008). The human response to such a situation is unknown. However, given the positive value of looking at the Earth for astronaut well-being (Ihle et al. 2006), it seems almost certain that seeing the Earth as yet another dot in space will impact negatively on the psyche of Mars travelers.

This chapter will review the current knowledge of cultural, psychological, psychiatric, cognitive, interpersonal, and organizational issues that are relevant to the behavior and performance of astronaut crews and ground support personnel. Recommendations will be offered to space agencies for future long-duration human space missions.

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