Living on the edge: How to prepare for it?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human Factors
• Space Analogs

Background:

• Isolated, Confined, and Extreme (ICE) environments, such as Antarctic research stations, serve as crucial space analogs.
• These environments simulate the long-duration isolation inherent in operational space missions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gain first-hand insights into the demands faced by personnel in ICE environments.
• To explore how training and environmental factors influence the functioning of individuals in these settings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 24 sojourners from various Antarctic and non-Antarctic stations and polar treks.
• Investigated the impact of ICE environments on personnel training, preparation, and overall functioning.

Main Results:

• The ICE environment significantly impacts organizational, interpersonal, and individual systems, affecting sojourner functioning.
• Identified key factors including sensory deprivation, sleep, fatigue, group dynamics, emotional displacement, and gender issues.
• Confirmed previous findings on coping strategies like positivity, salutogenesis, job dedication, and collectivistic thinking, viewed through a systemic lens.

Conclusions:

• A systemic perspective is essential for understanding the multifaceted challenges within ICE environments.
• Future preparatory training programs should adopt a systemic approach, integrating all crew system members (e.g., family, ground crew).
• Training must address the impact of organizational subcultures and the risks associated with unawareness of how poor sleep, fatigue, and isolation affect operational safety.