Psychology of Space
Conceptual Astronomy
Natasha Oslinger
July 30th, 2016
Psychology of Space
Conditions in space are extremely different to those on Earth, so, people who dedicate their lives to space travel experience many psychological pressures that Earth-fixed people do not. Starting from the decision to venture into space all the way until the mission ends, astronauts know that their mental health is at risk of being compromised by the various conditions they will encounter. These conditions include prolonged confining tight spaces, close proximity to a group of people for extended periods of time, on-the-spot quick thinking situations, extravehicular activities, among many other potential stressors. Studies have shown that because of the alienating conditions of space, it can be challenging to remain focused on a specific task for a long period of time and finite coordination is worsened. Overall, astronauts know that their psychological stability is instrumental in the success of a mission, and a lot of thought needs to be put into the mental health of those venturing into space.
The process begins as soon as the potential astronauts are distinguished. Upwards of 5000 people apply to each mission, but normally less than 10 of which are chosen. It can take as long as 10 years before an applicant has completed the entire process and is ready for space travel. One of the most challenging parts of this process is trying to predict accurately what the individual’s behaviour will be like when time comes for the mission. There is a very specific set of characteristics required in people who wish to become astronauts: they must have a college degree, scientific experience, a certain build and height, and they have to pass a specific psychological evaluation to ensure that they can handle the many challenges of space. Psychiatrist Nick Kanas once stated, “Once, I was evaluating astronaut applicants and I asked them to give me some examples of things that might cause stress. One applicant, a test pilot, recalled the time he was flying an experimental aircraft and it spun out of control. As the plane spiraled down, he took out his manual, calmly thumbed through it, and figured out how to pull the plane to safety. His ability to temporarily control his emotions was striking.” This part of the verification process takes place in two parts, part one is a set of interviews and the second is an assessment based on skill. The candidates showing symptoms of mental illness are immediately weaned out, so are people who exhibit any psychological problems. People who display marital problems are also disqualified, considering that the astronauts will be away from their relatives and loved ones for long periods of time. Although whether or not the applicants have to undergo tests that determine their ability to handle stressful situations is not known to the public, it has been implied that such tests are utilized.
Deprivation is the first and possibly most prominent psychological challenge the astronauts must face once chosen for a space mission. Space doesn’t have the many luxuries, such as gravity, fresh air, 24 hour days, and social diversity, that most people on Earth are accustomed to. Astronauts must live for long periods of time in zero gravity, this can lead to a feeling of disconnection from the ground (not so) beneath their feet. People are also generally accustomed to experiencing 24 hour days, they sleep for about a third of it and spend the rest of the time working. In space, the Sun rises and sets every 45 minutes, which can be disorienting, and the feeling of a structured “day” can be lost. The deprivation of familiar sensory experiences don’t normally have drastic effects on astronauts, considering they have been carefully chosen with this in mind, but, if not handled well it can take a toll on one's mental health. During the third Skylab 4 mission, in which three astronauts were sent aboard the American space station, exhaustion and grueling hours led to the crew shutting out NASA for a day.
Isolation and deprivation in space have been known to cause hallucinations ranging from visual abnormalities to phantom smells coming from the station. During the first Apollo missions, astronauts reported visual-snow-like streaks of light with no apparent or obvious source. Astronaut Don Pettit of the 2012 mission to the International Space Station has reported seeing “flashes in my eyes, like luminous dancing fairies.” Considering how common these visual hallucinations were reported, they were looked into and can be attributed in part by cosmic rays from subatomic particles being emitted by stars. After time, these hallucinations can become more serious, like in 1976 when Russian mission Soyuz-21 reported an acidic pungent scent coming from an unknown location. “Concerns about a possible fluid leak meant the replacement crew boarded with breathing equipment, but no odour or technical problems were found. Subsequent reports of ‘interpersonal issues’ and ‘psychological problems’ in the crew led Nasa to conclude the odour was probably a hallucination.” (The Guardian)
Another concern that must be dealt with on long haul space missions is the group of astronaut’s team dynamic. When an individual in space makes any decision, they know that it has the potential to affect every member of their team. Any error or mistake made by one could put the entire mission in jeopardy, and the success of the team could be compromised. To avoid tension among interpersonal relationships, NASA has been conducting tests called “Distributed Team Decision Making” among their astronauts. NASA states, “This project will yield techniques for predicting breakdown of team dynamics and performance; guidelines for effectively selecting, training, and assembling teams of astronauts; tools for self assessment and team feedback; and strategies for managing stress in multi-cultural and gender-mixed teams.” The program has yielded many benefits, including the identification of interpersonal risks among team members of different backgrounds, genders, cultures, and ethnicities, and provided countermeasures to make each mission as successful as possible. The study began with a “computer based search and rescue mission set in Antarctica” in which the team’s ability to work together and their group decision making styles were recorded. In the simulation, the group had to overcome problems that might arise and manage the situation with time as a pressure. “Task performance, physiological measures (ECG, respiration, SCL, EMG, and PPG), voice and email communication, personality, team dynamics, and facial affect measures are being analyzed to identify the relations between stress, team interactions and task performance.”
Experiments like this are important for the planning of the long-haul missions that NASA is going to conduct in the near future. Considering the distance from Earth to Mars, a manned mission would need to be strategically planned out in order to fully ensure psychological preservation of the crew. From 2007 to 2011, a simulation of a mission to Mars held in Moscow, Russia called “Mars-500” was conducted by Russia, the European Space Agency, and China. Mars 500 was a six person 520 day mock mission consisting of three Russian, one French, one Italian, and one Chinese man, all with knowledge in science and engineering. The main purpose of this experiment was to see the behavior and long term psychological effects of isolated crew contact with a tight knit group of people. The information acquired from this experiment helped to expose the capability of the crew in confined spaces with limited resources over a long period of time. The experiment was split up into three stages, throughout each stage, the six astronauts lived entirely in their simulation spacecraft. To preserve authenticity, all outside communication during checks, problems, etc. had the same delay time that would occur between Mars and Earth. Although conditions such as zero gravity could not be simulated, the majority of the conditions were realistic and yielded accurate results. Each section of the mission ranged in duration, the first being to test equipment, the second to begin isolated living conditions, and the third to recreate a full length mission to Mars. The ending of the experiment in 2011 produced extremely valuable information about the human psyche and its capabilities, all six of the mission’s crew members made it through the entirety without any severe psychological distress. Although there were some slight disturbances, such as the majority of the crew having sleeping problems, no results found would rule out the probability of a Mars mission in the near future.
The novel Rendezvous with Rama, written by Arthur C. Clarke, goes into detail about some of the psychological problems that astronauts may encounter during space travel. In the novel, an Earth spacecraft named Endeavor approaches the extremely fast alleged asteroid dubbed ‘Rama.’ Once landing on Rama’s surface, it is clear that it is not an asteroid, the gargantuan satellite is obviously made by a highly intelligent alien species. Endeavor’s crew boards the ship and spends several weeks examining it and its contents. One of the biggest (true to life) psychological problems the mission encountered was attempting comprehend a gravity free/ microgravity world. The distance from the main axis of the ship effected how strong gravity was, so, in some parts of the ship, there was an easily discernible up and down, and others were just free float. Although the astronauts, much like non-fictional astronauts, were trained to know how to handle weightlessness, it is simple human instinct to try and identify an “up and down” in the kind of situations Endeavour's crew encountered. For example, Rama is separated into several distinct parts, each named after a different Earth city, all being only accessible by ladder. When climbing a ladder in space, there is no “up or down” because the force of gravity doesn’t drag a person's mass in a certain direction. So, as the crew begin their trek along the ladder, they begin by traveling “up” it. They climbed for quite some time, and as they move through the free space of Rama, the gravity of the ship’s central axis begins to make climbing tiresome. Once the feeling of being pulled down becomes too strong, they decide to switch the way their heads are facing so that they feel as though they are climbing “down” it.
As quoted from the novel, “The feeble gravity was little help, for with an effort of will, he could switch “up” and “down” in any direction he pleased. But some directions were psychologically dangerous; whenever his mind skirted these, he had to vector it hastily away.” This is a good example of how human psychology can play greatly into the success and safety of a mission, and why proper training for such conditions are crucial. Since zero gravity conditions are not possible to recreate for long periods of time on Earth, astronauts currently train for weightlessness by simulating microgravity in huge pools of water. The astronaut in training is given a suit that enables them to float in a perfectly neutral way. Much like in space, they will neither float nor sink. Once the correct buoyancy is fixed, physical and psychological training for conditions in space can begin.
Once a mission is complete and the astronauts that have altered their thinking to space conditions return to Earth, their psychological adjustments are not complete. Despite the physical challenges they have to face, such as muscle loss and changes in eye pressure, there is a long psychological readjustment period that can take a huge toll on the mental health of an Earthbound astronaut. Astronaut Chris Hadfield, once returned to Earth, stated, "Right after I landed, I could feel the weight of my lips and tongue and I had to change how I was talking, I hadn't realized that I learned to talk with a weightless tongue." Returned astronauts have to reintegrate into society and learn to once again deal with large groups of people and wide open spaces, they have to adjust to not being able to move heavy objects with the tips of their fingers, and they have to deal with the “postpartum” like depression they often suffer from.
It is fairly easy to argue that humans were not made for space. Although in the right situation we can survive in space for quite some time, it is apparent that the conditions are just not suited for our species. Those of us who do make it into space have many physiological and psychological challenges to train for and overcome, some to do with mental health, others much more life and death. Each individual must work as a team to try and avoid human error and overcome difficult and often time sensitive issues that are almost guaranteed to arise throughout the mission. And once they return home, the mental challenges do not suddenly cease. All in all, astronauts and the people who send them into space know that the process behind ensuring mental stability is long and tedious before, during, and after the mission, but it is necessary, and ensures a safe journey.
Conceptual Astronomy
Natasha Oslinger
July 30th, 2016
Psychology of Space
Conditions in space are extremely different to those on Earth, so, people who dedicate their lives to space travel experience many psychological pressures that Earth-fixed people do not. Starting from the decision to venture into space all the way until the mission ends, astronauts know that their mental health is at risk of being compromised by the various conditions they will encounter. These conditions include prolonged confining tight spaces, close proximity to a group of people for extended periods of time, on-the-spot quick thinking situations, extravehicular activities, among many other potential stressors. Studies have shown that because of the alienating conditions of space, it can be challenging to remain focused on a specific task for a long period of time and finite coordination is worsened. Overall, astronauts know that their psychological stability is instrumental in the success of a mission, and a lot of thought needs to be put into the mental health of those venturing into space.
The process begins as soon as the potential astronauts are distinguished. Upwards of 5000 people apply to each mission, but normally less than 10 of which are chosen. It can take as long as 10 years before an applicant has completed the entire process and is ready for space travel. One of the most challenging parts of this process is trying to predict accurately what the individual’s behaviour will be like when time comes for the mission. There is a very specific set of characteristics required in people who wish to become astronauts: they must have a college degree, scientific experience, a certain build and height, and they have to pass a specific psychological evaluation to ensure that they can handle the many challenges of space. Psychiatrist Nick Kanas once stated, “Once, I was evaluating astronaut applicants and I asked them to give me some examples of things that might cause stress. One applicant, a test pilot, recalled the time he was flying an experimental aircraft and it spun out of control. As the plane spiraled down, he took out his manual, calmly thumbed through it, and figured out how to pull the plane to safety. His ability to temporarily control his emotions was striking.” This part of the verification process takes place in two parts, part one is a set of interviews and the second is an assessment based on skill. The candidates showing symptoms of mental illness are immediately weaned out, so are people who exhibit any psychological problems. People who display marital problems are also disqualified, considering that the astronauts will be away from their relatives and loved ones for long periods of time. Although whether or not the applicants have to undergo tests that determine their ability to handle stressful situations is not known to the public, it has been implied that such tests are utilized.
Deprivation is the first and possibly most prominent psychological challenge the astronauts must face once chosen for a space mission. Space doesn’t have the many luxuries, such as gravity, fresh air, 24 hour days, and social diversity, that most people on Earth are accustomed to. Astronauts must live for long periods of time in zero gravity, this can lead to a feeling of disconnection from the ground (not so) beneath their feet. People are also generally accustomed to experiencing 24 hour days, they sleep for about a third of it and spend the rest of the time working. In space, the Sun rises and sets every 45 minutes, which can be disorienting, and the feeling of a structured “day” can be lost. The deprivation of familiar sensory experiences don’t normally have drastic effects on astronauts, considering they have been carefully chosen with this in mind, but, if not handled well it can take a toll on one's mental health. During the third Skylab 4 mission, in which three astronauts were sent aboard the American space station, exhaustion and grueling hours led to the crew shutting out NASA for a day.
Isolation and deprivation in space have been known to cause hallucinations ranging from visual abnormalities to phantom smells coming from the station. During the first Apollo missions, astronauts reported visual-snow-like streaks of light with no apparent or obvious source. Astronaut Don Pettit of the 2012 mission to the International Space Station has reported seeing “flashes in my eyes, like luminous dancing fairies.” Considering how common these visual hallucinations were reported, they were looked into and can be attributed in part by cosmic rays from subatomic particles being emitted by stars. After time, these hallucinations can become more serious, like in 1976 when Russian mission Soyuz-21 reported an acidic pungent scent coming from an unknown location. “Concerns about a possible fluid leak meant the replacement crew boarded with breathing equipment, but no odour or technical problems were found. Subsequent reports of ‘interpersonal issues’ and ‘psychological problems’ in the crew led Nasa to conclude the odour was probably a hallucination.” (The Guardian)
Another concern that must be dealt with on long haul space missions is the group of astronaut’s team dynamic. When an individual in space makes any decision, they know that it has the potential to affect every member of their team. Any error or mistake made by one could put the entire mission in jeopardy, and the success of the team could be compromised. To avoid tension among interpersonal relationships, NASA has been conducting tests called “Distributed Team Decision Making” among their astronauts. NASA states, “This project will yield techniques for predicting breakdown of team dynamics and performance; guidelines for effectively selecting, training, and assembling teams of astronauts; tools for self assessment and team feedback; and strategies for managing stress in multi-cultural and gender-mixed teams.” The program has yielded many benefits, including the identification of interpersonal risks among team members of different backgrounds, genders, cultures, and ethnicities, and provided countermeasures to make each mission as successful as possible. The study began with a “computer based search and rescue mission set in Antarctica” in which the team’s ability to work together and their group decision making styles were recorded. In the simulation, the group had to overcome problems that might arise and manage the situation with time as a pressure. “Task performance, physiological measures (ECG, respiration, SCL, EMG, and PPG), voice and email communication, personality, team dynamics, and facial affect measures are being analyzed to identify the relations between stress, team interactions and task performance.”
Experiments like this are important for the planning of the long-haul missions that NASA is going to conduct in the near future. Considering the distance from Earth to Mars, a manned mission would need to be strategically planned out in order to fully ensure psychological preservation of the crew. From 2007 to 2011, a simulation of a mission to Mars held in Moscow, Russia called “Mars-500” was conducted by Russia, the European Space Agency, and China. Mars 500 was a six person 520 day mock mission consisting of three Russian, one French, one Italian, and one Chinese man, all with knowledge in science and engineering. The main purpose of this experiment was to see the behavior and long term psychological effects of isolated crew contact with a tight knit group of people. The information acquired from this experiment helped to expose the capability of the crew in confined spaces with limited resources over a long period of time. The experiment was split up into three stages, throughout each stage, the six astronauts lived entirely in their simulation spacecraft. To preserve authenticity, all outside communication during checks, problems, etc. had the same delay time that would occur between Mars and Earth. Although conditions such as zero gravity could not be simulated, the majority of the conditions were realistic and yielded accurate results. Each section of the mission ranged in duration, the first being to test equipment, the second to begin isolated living conditions, and the third to recreate a full length mission to Mars. The ending of the experiment in 2011 produced extremely valuable information about the human psyche and its capabilities, all six of the mission’s crew members made it through the entirety without any severe psychological distress. Although there were some slight disturbances, such as the majority of the crew having sleeping problems, no results found would rule out the probability of a Mars mission in the near future.
The novel Rendezvous with Rama, written by Arthur C. Clarke, goes into detail about some of the psychological problems that astronauts may encounter during space travel. In the novel, an Earth spacecraft named Endeavor approaches the extremely fast alleged asteroid dubbed ‘Rama.’ Once landing on Rama’s surface, it is clear that it is not an asteroid, the gargantuan satellite is obviously made by a highly intelligent alien species. Endeavor’s crew boards the ship and spends several weeks examining it and its contents. One of the biggest (true to life) psychological problems the mission encountered was attempting comprehend a gravity free/ microgravity world. The distance from the main axis of the ship effected how strong gravity was, so, in some parts of the ship, there was an easily discernible up and down, and others were just free float. Although the astronauts, much like non-fictional astronauts, were trained to know how to handle weightlessness, it is simple human instinct to try and identify an “up and down” in the kind of situations Endeavour's crew encountered. For example, Rama is separated into several distinct parts, each named after a different Earth city, all being only accessible by ladder. When climbing a ladder in space, there is no “up or down” because the force of gravity doesn’t drag a person's mass in a certain direction. So, as the crew begin their trek along the ladder, they begin by traveling “up” it. They climbed for quite some time, and as they move through the free space of Rama, the gravity of the ship’s central axis begins to make climbing tiresome. Once the feeling of being pulled down becomes too strong, they decide to switch the way their heads are facing so that they feel as though they are climbing “down” it.
As quoted from the novel, “The feeble gravity was little help, for with an effort of will, he could switch “up” and “down” in any direction he pleased. But some directions were psychologically dangerous; whenever his mind skirted these, he had to vector it hastily away.” This is a good example of how human psychology can play greatly into the success and safety of a mission, and why proper training for such conditions are crucial. Since zero gravity conditions are not possible to recreate for long periods of time on Earth, astronauts currently train for weightlessness by simulating microgravity in huge pools of water. The astronaut in training is given a suit that enables them to float in a perfectly neutral way. Much like in space, they will neither float nor sink. Once the correct buoyancy is fixed, physical and psychological training for conditions in space can begin.
Once a mission is complete and the astronauts that have altered their thinking to space conditions return to Earth, their psychological adjustments are not complete. Despite the physical challenges they have to face, such as muscle loss and changes in eye pressure, there is a long psychological readjustment period that can take a huge toll on the mental health of an Earthbound astronaut. Astronaut Chris Hadfield, once returned to Earth, stated, "Right after I landed, I could feel the weight of my lips and tongue and I had to change how I was talking, I hadn't realized that I learned to talk with a weightless tongue." Returned astronauts have to reintegrate into society and learn to once again deal with large groups of people and wide open spaces, they have to adjust to not being able to move heavy objects with the tips of their fingers, and they have to deal with the “postpartum” like depression they often suffer from.
It is fairly easy to argue that humans were not made for space. Although in the right situation we can survive in space for quite some time, it is apparent that the conditions are just not suited for our species. Those of us who do make it into space have many physiological and psychological challenges to train for and overcome, some to do with mental health, others much more life and death. Each individual must work as a team to try and avoid human error and overcome difficult and often time sensitive issues that are almost guaranteed to arise throughout the mission. And once they return home, the mental challenges do not suddenly cease. All in all, astronauts and the people who send them into space know that the process behind ensuring mental stability is long and tedious before, during, and after the mission, but it is necessary, and ensures a safe journey.