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Interpersonal issues in space: Shuttle/Mir and beyond.

Nick Kanas1

  • 1University of California/San Francisco and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. nick21@itsa.ucsf.edu

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|June 10, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Space missions can cause interpersonal tension, with crewmembers reporting decreased leader support. Negative emotions displaced from crew to mission control and management highlight the need for adapted training for long-duration spaceflight.

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Area of Science:

  • Space Psychology
  • Human Factors in Spaceflight
  • Crew Performance and Well-being

Background:

  • Interpersonal issues in spaceflight can negatively impact crew performance and well-being.
  • Previous anecdotal reports and analogue studies suggest potential psychological challenges during space missions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine interpersonal dynamics and psychological well-being of astronauts and cosmonauts during space missions.
  • To investigate the displacement of tension and negative emotions between crewmembers and ground control personnel.

Main Methods:

  • Questionnaire surveys administered to 54 astronauts/cosmonauts with spaceflight experience.
  • A 135-day Mir Space Station simulation study involving crew and ground control participants.
  • Weekly mood and group climate questionnaires for U.S. astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, and mission control staff.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline Space Human FactorsNon-NASA Center

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Main Results:

  • Few changes in tension and group behavior were observed over time on orbit.
  • Decreased leader support reported by crewmembers in the latter half of missions.
  • Evidence of a novelty effect in the initial weeks for U.S. astronauts.
  • Significant displacement of tension from crew to mission control and from mission control to management.
  • Notable differences in responses between American and Russian participants, and between crew and mission control.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest specific interpersonal dynamics, including tension displacement, that require attention.
  • Interpersonal issues and psychological stressors, such as isolation and communication delays, must be addressed for future long-duration missions like Mars expeditions.
  • Implications for developing targeted training countermeasures to enhance crew performance and well-being in space.