Abstract
Experience gained from test pilots, high-altitude balloonists, and animals sent on rocket flights was the starting point for understanding astronaut adaptation and performance in space. Psychology played a significant role in Project Mercury, but before that effort was complete, official interest in such topics as astronaut selection, psychosocial adjustment, group dynamics, and psychological support all but disappeared. Interest was rekindled when astronauts joined cosmonauts on Mir and then became full partners on the International Space Station. We review reasons for this period of minimal involvement in the space program and suggest that the “right stuff” image worked against psychology and psychiatry until the mid-1990s, when space station expeditions brought the challenges of long-duration missions into focus. Evidence of renewed interest included the advent of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, the development of NASA’s Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap, and the new Human Research Program. In 2001, Safe Passage: Astronaut Care for Exploration Missions drew attention to behavioral health, a perspective on psychosocial adjustment that depends not only an absence of neuropsychiatric dysfunction but on the presence of positive interactions with the physical and social environments. We trace the history and current status of astronaut selection and psychological support, two essential ingredients for maintaining behavioral health, from Mercury to the ISS. Behavioral health is important because it reduces risk, helps optimize performance, and contributes to the welfare of astronauts, their coworkers, and their families. We conclude with a brief outline for a comprehensive and continuing program in spaceflight behavioral health.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Andersen, D.T., McKay, C.P., Wharton Jr., R.A., Rummel, J.D.: An Antarctic research as a model for planetary exploration. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc 43, 499–504 (1990)
Anonymous: Journal interview 64: conversation with Joseph V. Brady. Addiction 100, 1805–1812 (2005)
Ball, J.R., Evans, C.H. (eds.): Safe Passage: astronaut Care for Exploration Missions. National Academy Press, Washington, DC (2001)
Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap. http://bioastroroadmap.nasa.gov/index.jsp. Accessed 13 Mar 2012
Birkland, T.A.: Focusing events, mobilization, and agenda setting. J. Public. Policy. 18(1), 53–74 (1997)
Brady, J.V.: Behavioral health: the propaedeutic requirement. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B13–B24 (2005)
Burgess, C., Dubbs, C.: Animals in Space: from Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle. Springer Praxis, Chichester (2007)
Burrough, B.: Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis On Board Mir. Harper Collins, New York (1998)
Cernan, E., Davis, D.: The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America’s Race to Space. St. Martin’s Press, New York (1999)
Connors, M.M., Harrison, A.A., Akins, F.R.: Living Aloft: Human Requirements for Extended Spaceflight. NASA SP-483, Washington, DC (1985)
Connors, M.M., Harrison, A.A., Akins, F.R.: Psychology in the resurgent space program. Am. Psychol. 41(8), 906–913 (1986)
Cooper Jr., H.S.F.: A House in Space. Bantam Books, New York (1976)
Cunningham, W.: The All-American Boys. Macmillan, New York (1977)
Dinges, D.F., Rider, R.L., Dorrian, J., McGlinchey, E.L., Rogers, N.L., Cizman, Z., Goldenstein, S.K., Vogler, C., Venkartamarian, S., Metaxas, D.N.: Optical computer recognition of facial expressions associated with stress induced by performance demands. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B172–B182 (2005)
Douglas, W.K.: Psychological and sociological aspects of manned spaceflight. In: Harrison, A.A., Clearwater, Y.A., McKay, C.P. (eds.) From Antarctica to Outer Space: Life in Isolation and Confinement, pp. 81–88. Springer, New York (1990)
Fiedler, E., Carpenter, F.E.: Evolution of the behavioral health sciences branch of the space medicine and health care systems at the Johnson Space Center. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B31–B35 (2005)
Flynn, C.F.: An operational approach to long-duration mission behavioral health and performance factors. Aviat. Space Environ. Med 76(6, sect. II), B42–B52 (2005)
Galarza, L., Holland, A.W.: Selecting astronauts for long-duration missions. SAE international document 1999-01-2097, presented at the international conference on environmental systems, Denver, July 1999a
Galarza, L., Holland, A.W.: Critical astronaut proficiencies required for long duration spaceflight. SAE Document 1999-01-2096, presented at the international conference on systems, Denver, July 1999b
Gunderson, E.K.E.: Human Adaptability to Antarctic Conditions. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC (1973)
Gunderson, E.K.E.: Preface. In: Harrison, A.A., Clearwater, Y.A., McKay, C.P. (eds.) From Antarctica to Outer Space: Life in Isolation and Confinement, p. 1. Springer, New York (1990)
Halvorson, T.: ISS Astronaut Susan Helms: space is More than a Nice Place to Visit. http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/mission/iss_freetime_010615.html. Accessed 23 June 2010
Harrison, A.A.: Behavioral health: integrating research and application in support of exploration missions. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B3–B12 (2005)
Harrison, A.A., Summit, J.E.: How third force psychology might view humans in space. Space. Power 10, 85–203 (1991)
Harrison, A.A., Clearwater, Y.A., McKay, C.P, The human experience in Antarctica: applications to life in space. Behav. Sci. 34(4), 253–271 (1989)
Harrison, A.A., Clearwater, Y.A., McKay, C.P. (eds.): From Antarctica to Outer Space: Life in Isolation and Confinement. Springer, New York (1990)
Harvey, B.: The New Russian Space Program: From Competition to Cooperation. Wiley Praxis, Chichester (1996)
Helmreich, R.L.: Applying psychology to outer space: unfulfilled promises revisited. Am. Psychol. 445–450 (1983)
Holland, A.W.: Psychology of Spaceflight. J. Hum. Perform. Extreme Environ. 5(1), 4 (2000)
House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Constitutional Rights, NASA’s Equal Opportunity Program, hearings before the Subcommittee on the Judiciary, 93rd Congress, 2nd session, 13–14 March 1974.
Human Research and Safety. http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/humanresearch/index.html. Accessed 13 Mar 2012
Human Research Roadmap. http://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov/. Accessed 13 Mar 2012
Jones, D.R., Annes, C.A.: The evolution and present status of mental health standards for selection of USAF candidates for space missions. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 54, 730–734 (1983)
Kanas, N.: Psychosocial factors affecting simulated and actual space missions. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 56(8), 806–811 (1985)
Kanas, N.: Psychosocial support for cosmonauts. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 62(4), 353–355 (1991)
Kanas, N., Manzey, D.: Space Psychology and Psychiatry. Kluwer, Dordrecht (2003)
Kanas, N., Salnitsky, V.P., Ritsher, J.B., Gushin, V.I., Weiss, D.S., Saylor, S.A., Kozerenko, O.P., Marmar, C.R.: Human interactions in space: ISS vs. shuttle/MIR. Acta Astronaut 59, 413–419 (2006)
Kane, L., Short, P., Sipes, W.E., Flynn, C.F.: Development and validation of the spaceflight cognitive assessment tool for windows (WinSCAT). Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B183–B191 (2005)
Kelley, A.D., Kanas, N.: Crewmember communications in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 63, 721–726 (1992)
Kelley, A.D., Kanas, N.: Leisure time activities in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. Acta. Astronaut. 32, 451–457 (1993a)
Kelley, A.D., Kanas, N.: Communication between space crews and ground personnel: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. Aviat. Space. Environ. Med. 64, 795–800 (1993b)
Launius, R.D.: Heroes in a vacuum: the Apollo astronaut as cultural icon. In: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics [AIAA] Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, 13 Jan 2005
Lieberman, P., Morey, A., Hochstadt, J., Larson, M., Mather, S.: Mount Everest: a space analogue for speech monitoring of cognitive deficits and stress. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B198–B207 (2005)
Linenger, J.M.: Off the Planet. McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)
Link, M.M.: Space Medicine in Project Mercury. NASA, Washington, DC (1965)
Lugg, D.J.: Behavioral health in Antarctica: implications for long-duration space missions. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B74–B78 (2005)
Mallis, M.M., DeRoshia, C.W.: Circadian rhythms, sleep, and performance in space. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B94–B107 (2005)
McQuaid, K.: Race, gender and space exploration: a chapter in the social history of the space age. J. Am. Stud. 41(2), 405–434 (2007)
Mercury Program Overview. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mercury/missions/astronaut.html. Accessed 13 Mar 2012
Mitchell, E., Williams, D.: The Way of the Explorer. Putnam, New York (1996)
Myasnikov, V.I., Zamaletdinov, I.S.: Psychological states and group interaction of crew members in flight. In: Huntoon, C.L., Antipov, V., Grigoriev, A.I. (eds.) Humans in Spaceflight, vol. 3, bk. 2, pp. 419–431. AIAA, Reston (1996)
NASA Names CASIS to Manage Space Station National Laboratory. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/sep/HQ_11-294_ISS_NPO.html. Accessed 13 Mar 2012
Oberg, J.E., Oberg, A.R.: Pioneering the Space Frontier. McGraw-Hill, New York (1986)
Palinkas, L.A.: The psychology of isolated and confined environments: understanding human behavior in Antarctica. Am. Psychol. 58(3), 353–363 (2003)
Palinkas, L.A., Group adaptation and individual adjustment in antarctica: a summary of recent research, In: Harrison, A.A., et al. (ed.) From Antarctica to Outer Space, pp. 239–252 Springer, New York (1990)
Perrow, C.E.: The organizational context of human factors engineering. Adm. Sci. Q. 28(4), 521–541 (1983)
Petrov, B.N., Lomov, B.F., Samsonov, N.D. (eds.): Psychological Problems of Spaceflight. Nauka Press, Moscow (1979)
Rasmussen, J.E. (ed.): Man in Isolation and Confinement. Aldine, Chicago (1973)
Rholes Jr., F.H., Grunzke, M.E., Reynolds, H.H.: Chimpanzee performance during the ballistic and orbital project mercury flights. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 86(1), 2–10 (1963)
Ryan, C.: The Pre-Astronauts: Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of Space. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis (1995)
Santy, P.A.: Choosing the Right Stuff: The Psychological Selection of Astronauts and Cosmonauts. Praeger/Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport (1994)
Schmidt, H.: The millennium project. In: Stoker, C., Emmart, C. (eds.) Strategies for Mars: a Guide for Human Exploration. American Astronautical Society/Univelt, San Diego (1996)
Shepanek, M.: Human behavioral research in space: quandaries for research subjects and researchers. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B25–B30 (2005)
Shephard, J.M., Kosslyn, S.M.: The MiniCog rapid assessment battery: a ‘blood pressure cuff’ for the mind. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B192–B197 (2005)
Sipes, W.E., Vander Ark, S.T.: Operational behavioral health and performance resources for international space station crews and families. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B36–B41 (2005)
Sipes, W.E., Fiedler, E.: Current psychological support for US astronauts on the international space station. Paper presented at tools for psychological support during exploration missions to mars and moon, European Space Research and Technology Centre [ESTEC], Noordwijk, 26 Mar 2007
Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Procedures. SIOP, Washington, DC (2003)
Stuster, J.W.: Lessons from previous expeditions for the human exploration of mars. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 57, 3–4 (2004). 126–134
Suedfeld, P.: Invulnerability, coping, salutogenesis, integration: the four phases of space psychology. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B61–B66 (2005)
Voas, R., Zedekar, R.: Astronaut selection and training, chap. 10. In: Mercury Project Summary Including the Results of the Fourth Manned Orbital Flight, May 15 and 16, 1963. Office of Scientific and Technical Information, NASA, Washington, DC (1963)
Weick, K.E.: Organizational Design: organizations as Self-Designing Systems. Organ. Dyn. 6, 30–46 (1977)
Weitekamp, M.A.: Right Stuff, Wrong Sex: America’s First Women in Space Program. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (2004)
White, F.: The Overview Effect. Houghton Mifflin, Boston (1987)
Wolfe, T.: The Right Stuff. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York (1979)
Wood, J., Schmidt, L., Lugg, D., Ayton, J., Phillips, T., Shepanek, M.: Life, survival and behavioral health in small closed communities: 10 years of studying small Antarctic groups. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 76(6, sect. II), B89–B94 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harrison, A.A., Fiedler, E.R. (2013). Behavioral Health. In: Vakoch, D. (eds) On Orbit and Beyond. Space Technology Library, vol 29. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30583-2_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30583-2_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-30582-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-30583-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)