[Mental status and work capacity of crewmen at the Salute-6 space flight base]

The psychic status and work capacity of prime crewmembers of missions 1 and 5 onboard Salyut-6 were investigated, using objective (scope, time and quality of the work performed) and subjective (fatigue, mood variation, complaints) parameters. Based on these parameters, it was possible to identify several stages in the dynamics of the psychic status and work capacity: stage of acute adaptation, stage of complete compensation (2-3 or 4 months), stage of incomplete compensation (3 or 4-5 months), and stage of final "breakaway" (last month). These stages reflect the process of psychic and professional adaptation to space flight. The process of adaptation is strongly affected by the rational work-rest cycle, in which the sleep period coincides with that associated with Moscow time, and events of psychological support. The results show that crewmembers may well adapt and work in space flight for a long time.