Multiple-task performance on a computer-simulated life support system during a space mission simulation

This paper presents an experiment which examined the effects of isolation and confinement during a simulation of a short-term space mission. During the 7-day spaceflight simulation, four Canadian astronauts were tested daily on a 30-min performance task. The task, CAMS (Cabin Air Management System), represents a computer-based simulation of a generic life support system. As a multiple-task environment, it allows the measurement of a wide range of task management variables such as primary and secondary task performance, and system control activities. Measures of subjective state variables were also taken. The results did not show any evidence of serious performance decrements for any crew member. The analysis revealed different adjustment patterns with which crew members responded as a function of mission duration and variations in workload. Among the secondary tasks employed, prospective memory was found to be more sensitive than reaction time to increases in workload. The paper concludes with a discussion of the utility of spaceflight simulations and computer-based simulations of space work.     

Behavioral and biological effects of autonomous versus scheduled mission management in simulated space-dwelling groups

Logistical constraints during long-duration space expeditions will limit the ability of Earth-based mission control personnel to manage their astronaut crews and will thus increase the prevalence of autonomous operations. Despite this inevitability, little research exists regarding crew performance and psychosocial adaptation under such autonomous conditions. To this end, a newly-initiated study on crew management systems was conducted to assess crew performance effectiveness under rigid schedule-based management of crew activities by Mission Control versus more flexible, autonomous management of activities by the crews themselves. Nine volunteers formed three long-term crews and were extensively trained in a simulated planetary geological exploration task over the course of several months. Each crew then embarked on two separate 3–4 h missions in a counterbalanced sequence: Scheduled, in which the crews were directed by Mission Control according to a strict topographic and temporal region-searching sequence, and Autonomous, in which the well-trained crews received equivalent baseline support from Mission Control but were free to explore the planetary surface as they saw fit. Under the autonomous missions, performance in all three crews improved (more high-valued geologic samples were retrieved), subjective self-reports of negative emotional states decreased, unstructured debriefing logs contained fewer references to negative emotions and greater use of socially-referent language, and salivary cortisol output across the missions was attenuated. The present study provides evidence that crew autonomy may improve performance and help sustain if not enhance psychosocial adaptation and biobehavioral health. These controlled experimental data contribute to an emerging empirical database on crew autonomy which the international astronautics community may build upon for future research and ultimately draw upon when designing and managing missions.     

The Russian experience in medical care and health maintenance of the International Space Station crews

The main purpose of the medical support system aboard International Space Station (ISS) is crew health maintenance and high level of work capability assurance prior to during and after in space flights. In the present communication the Russian point of view dealing with the problems and achievements in this branch is presented. An overview on medical operations during flight and after finalization of the space missions based on Russian data of crew health and environment state monitoring, as well as data on the inflight countermeasures (prophylaxis) jointly with data on operational problems that are specific to ISS is presented. The report summarizes results of the medical examination of Russian members of the ISS and taxi crews during and after visits to the ISS.     

Communication constraints,indexical countermeasures,and crew configuration effects in simulated space-dwelling groups

Previous research with groups of individually isolated crews communicating and problem-solving in a distributed interactive simulation environment has shown that the functional interchangeability of available communication channels can serve as an effective countermeasure to communication constraints. The present report extends these findings by investigating crew performance effects and psychosocial adaptation following: (1) the loss of all communication channels, and (2) changes in crew configuration. Three-person crews participated in a simulated planetary exploration mission that required identification, collection, and analysis of geologic samples. Results showed that crews developed and employed discrete navigation system operations that served as functionally effective communication signals (i.e., “indexical” or “deictic” cues) in generating appropriate crewmember responses and maintaining performance effectiveness in the absence of normal communication channels. Additionally, changes in crew configuration impacted both performance effectiveness and psychosocial adaptation.     

The use of micro-worlds for human factors research in extended spaceflight.

This article provides an analysis of the utility of micro-worlds for human factors research in extended spaceflight. It outlines potential areas of application of the micro-world research paradigm in the context of spaceflight. While the research literature provides several examples of micro-worlds that simulate different work environments of high complexity, little work has been done with this tool in the operational environment of spaceflight. The author presents a micro-world, called CAMS, that has been especially developed for use in space-related research. The results from a research programme (comprising seven studies using CAMS) are presented. Based on a comparative analysis of the benefits and limitations of micro-worlds compared to other simulation types, the author argues that micro-worlds can be a very effective tool, provided their inherent limitations are taken into consideration.     

Lessons learned from Mir--a payload perspective

Among the principal objectives of the Phase 1 NASA/Mir program were for the United States to gain experience working with an international partner, to gain working experience in long-duration space flight, and to gain working experience in planning for and executing research on a long-duration space platform. The Phase 1 program was to provide the US early experience prior to the construction and operation of the International Space Station (Phase 2 and 3). While it can be argued that Mir and ISS are different platforms and that programmatically Phase 1 and ISS are organized differently, it is also clear that many aspects of operating a long-duration research program are platform independent. This can be demonstrated by a review of lessons learned from Skylab, a US space station program of the mid-1970s, many of which were again “learned” on Mir and are being “learned” on ISS. Among these are optimum crew training strategies, on-orbit crew operations, ground support, medical operations and crew psychological support, and safety certification processes.     

多舱段载人航天器空气环境控制系统性能分析

建立了一种多舱段载人航天器空气环境控制系统性能集成仿真分析模型,包括舱体模块、乘员模块、舱压控制模块、温湿度控制模块和CO2净化模块,并对两舱段载人航天器空气环境控制系统性能进行了计算分析。结果表明,舱间通风传热能力较差,造成组合体温湿度水平超出指标范围,而舱间通风传质能力较强,可实现氧分压水平和CO2分压水平的集中控制。提出了一种控制系统改进方案,在非主控舱段增设控温系统改善组合体空气温度水平,仿真结果表明,控制系统改进后组合体各空气环境参数均满足设计要求。该工作有助于加快载人航天器空气环境控制系统的设计和改进流程。     

Sources of Interference in Spatial Long-Term Memory Retrieval

Three experiments are reported that used an interference paradigm to test the extent to which perceptual orientation to a task environment interfered with retrieval from long-term spatial memory. Visual and spatial sources of interference were tested. The findings were consistent with a spatial locus of interference and showed that orientation to the task environment disrupted the accessibility of relative direction under two retrieval conditions: when the imagined viewpoint was 180 degrees misaligned with the actual viewpoint and when the actual body location was anterior to the imagined body location. While the former finding replicates previous reports of interference in perspective-taking tasks, the latter finding is new and difficult for current models of spatial long-term memory retrieval to explain. More research is needed to articulate further the constraints that perceptual orientation to the task environment place on spatial retrieval and their implications for models of spatial memory.     

Skylab task and work performance (experiment M-151--time and motion study)

The primary objective of Experiment M151 was to study by means of time and motion analytic techniques the inflight adaptation of Skylab crewmen to a variety of task situations involving different types of activity. A parallel objective was to examine astronaut inflight performance for any behavioral stress effects associated with the working and living conditions of the Skylab environment. Training data provided the basis for comparison of preflight and inflight performance. Efficiency was evaluated through the adaptation function, namely, the relation of performance time over task trials. The results indicate that the initial changeover from preflight to inflight (or, from 1-G to zero-G) was accompanied by a substantial increase in performance time for most work and task activities. Equally important was the finding that crewmen adjusted rapidly to the weightless environment and became proficient in developing techniques with which to optimize task performance. By the end of the second inflight trial, most of the activities were performed almost as efficiently as on the last preflight trial. In addition, the analysis demonstrated the sensitivity of the adaptation function to differences in task and hardware configuration. The function was found to be more regular and less variable inflight than preflight. Translation and control of masses (large or small) were accomplished easily and efficiently through the rapid development of the arms and legs (and the entire body) as subtle guidance and restraint systems. Finally, the adaptation function provided no evidence of behavioral stress effects attributable to the Skylab environment.     

载人航天器大气环境控制系统性能集成分析

考虑到载人航天器大气环境控制系统设计参数和控制参数众多,文章建立了一种载人航天器大气环境控制系统性能集成仿真分析模型,包括舱体模块、航天员模块、舱压控制模块、温湿度控制模块和二氧化碳净化模块。利用该模型对载人航天器常规工作模式下大气环境控制系统性能进行了计算分析,得到了在不同热负荷水平下载人航天器密封舱空气各个参数随在轨时间的变化趋势,结果表明:氧分压控制、二氧化碳净化和人区温湿度控制之间存在着密切的相互影响关系,不可孤立地进行分析。此外,文章还分析确定了非常规工作模式下热负荷水平允许上限,为载人航天器工作模式的确定提供了依据。研究结果有助于载人航天器大气环境控制系统的设计和流程改进。     

Methodological approach to study of cosmonauts errors and its instrumental support

The methodological approach to the study of cosmonauts errors is discussed in the paper. Within its framework an error is considered in psychophysiological aspect as consequence of cosmonaut "psychophysiological troubles" caused by combined effect of flight extreme conditions on his/her organism. This approach was used for the investigation of interrelation between cosmonauts errors, their psychophysiological state and work-rest schedule peculiarities. It includes procedures of expert analysis of data received in the course of radio and TV sessions with crew, analysis of timelines as well deviations in "crew-spacecraft" system functioning. These data are accumulated, systematized and processed in data base. Realization of the suggested approach does not require specialized onboard equipment and crew members time expenditure. Some results of inflight data analysis are presented to illustrate its potentials.     

载人飞船返回舱再入着陆力学环境防护技术改进

文章对弹道-升力式载人飞船返回舱再入着陆力学环境及其乘员和舱载仪器设备的防护措施进行了理论分析和试验研究。适当的返回舱座椅安装角度有利于乘员承受再入过载。座椅缓冲系统是吸收着陆冲击能量、保护乘员最重要的环节,发挥返回舱结构缓冲吸能作用也是改善着陆冲击环境的有效措施。合理设计返回舱设备布局和安装形式可保护舱载设备免受着陆冲击损坏。防护措施的改进可有效保护乘员免受伤害,保证舱载仪器设备正常工作。     

Spatial working memory is enhanced for movement experts in traditional and embodied tasks

Movement experts tend to outperform non-experts on some tasks of spatial ability, suggesting that movement experts possess enhanced spatial-cognitive abilities, which may be developed over years of practice. In the current study, movement experts (dancers and athletes) and non-experts completed one verbal working memory task and two spatial working memory tasks—a traditional Corsi block-tapping task and a new full-bodied version of the Corsi task, nicknamed the “Twister Task.” Movement experts outperformed non-experts on both the Corsi and Twister tasks but not on the verbal task, suggesting that movement experience may relate to spatial working memory specifically. Additionally, the Twister task significantly correlated with the traditional Corsi task, providing validation for a new measure of spatial working memory.     

面向火箭构型论证的运载能力快速分析方法

针对不同构型与任务条件下的运载能力快速计算问题,提出了基于高斯函数和组合神经网络的速度损失计算方法,并基于此对运载能力进行了快速分析。首先,基于状态量解析解计算分析,采用高斯函数对核心的重力速度损失项进行拟合计算;同时,为提高多构型与多任务样本的采样密度、简化数据建模过程并增强方法适应性,采用径向基网络(RBF)与深度神经网络(DNN)的组合形式进行状态量的提取与回归分析;然后将任务约束转化为需要速度增量,通过数值迭代得到运载能力。仿真结果表明,此运载能力分析方法精度偏差约为0.35%,计算耗时小于2 s,可为运载火箭总体参数快速论证与任务规划研究提供理论支撑。     

载人航天器密封舱微生物防控技术体系框架研究概述

载人航天器密封舱内环境适宜航天员工作和生活,同时也给空间微生物提供了生长繁殖的有利条件。而空间微重力和电磁辐射等环境会加大空间微生物对材料的腐蚀能力。因此,必须对空间微生物防控技术进行体系化研究。文章从空间微生物菌种的采集和鉴定、空间环境下微生物对航天材料的腐蚀机理、载人航天材料抗菌涂层选择以及微生物控制技术等方面对微生物防控体系进行阐述,可以作为开展载人航天器空间微生物防控技术研究的参考。     

Some psychophysiological and behavioral aspects of adaptation to simulated autonomous Mission to Mars

“Mars-105” experiment was executed in March–July 2009 in Moscow, at the Institute for Bio-Medical Problems (IBMP) with participation of European Space Agency (ESA) to simulate some specific conditions of future piloted Mars mission. In the last 35 days of isolation, in order to simulate autonomous flight conditions, some serious restrictions were established for the crew resupply and communication with Mission Control (MC). The objective of the study was to investigate psychophysiological and behavioral aspects (communication) of adaptation during this period of “high autonomy”. We used computerized analysis of the crew written daily reports to calculate the frequencies of utilization of certain semantic units, expressing different psychological functions. To estimate the level of psycho-physiological stress, we measured the concentration of urinal cortisol once in two weeks. To investigate psycho-emotional state, we used the questionnaire SAN, estimating Mood, Activity and Health once in two weeks.During the simulation of autonomous flight, we found out the different tendencies of communicative behavior. One group of subjects demonstrated the tendency to “activation and self-government” under “high autonomy” conditions. The other subjects continued to use communicative strategy that we called “closing the communication channel”. “Active” communication strategy was accompanied by increasing in subjective scores of mood and activity. The subjects, whose communication strategy was attributed as “closing”, demonstrated the considerably lower subjective scores of mood and activity. Period of high autonomy causes specific changes in communication strategies of the isolated crew.     

Psychosocial interactions during ISS missions

Based on anecdotal reports from astronauts and cosmonauts, studies of space analog environments on Earth, and our previous research on the Mir Space Station, a number of psychosocial issues have been identified that can lead to problems during long-duration space expeditions. Several of these issues were studied during a series of missions to the International Space Station. Using a mood and group climate questionnaire that was completed weekly by crewmembers in space and personnel in mission control, we found no evidence to support the presence of predicted decrements in well-being during the second half or in any specific quarter of the missions. The results did support the predicted displacement of negative feelings to outside supervisors among both crew and ground subjects. There were several significant differences in mood and group perceptions between Americans and Russians and between crewmembers and mission control personnel. Crewmembers related cohesion to the support role of their leader, and mission control personnel related cohesion to both the task and support roles of their leader. These findings are discussed with reference to future space missions.     

Psychosocial issues affecting crews during long-duration international space missions

Psychosocial issues can negatively impact on crew performance and morale during long-duration international space missions. Major psychosocial factors that have been described in anecdotal reports from space and in studies from analog situations on Earth include: 1) crew heterogeneity due to gender differences, cultural issues, and work experiences and motivations; 2) language and dialect variations; and 3) task versus supportive leadership roles. All of these factors can lead to negative sequelae, such as intra-crew tension and cohesion disruptions. Specific sequelae that can result from single factors include subgrouping and scapegoating due to crew heterogeneity; miscommunication due to major or subtle language differences; and role confusion, competition, and status leveling due to inappropriate leadership role definition. It is time to conduct research exploring the impact of these psychosocial factors and their sequelae on space crews during actual long-duration international space missions.     

Psychological considerations of man in space: problems & solutions

With concrete plans for long duration flight taking form a new impetus is lent to preparing man for this hostile and unnatural environment. Cramped conditions, isolation from family and loved ones, work stress, fear, and incompatibility with fellow crew, are but a few of the problems suffered by astronauts and cosmonauts during their long missions in orbit about the earth.

Although criteria for selection of crew is one aspect of attacking the problem, it has not solved it Notwithstanding good selection, team combination, and counselling before flight, problems have still occurred with unwanted consequences. Incompatibility of team members, far from being the exception, has been frequent. This has been detrímental both physiologically and psychologically for the individual as well as for the operational success and safety of the missions.

Because problems will inevitably occur in future long duration missions, especially when they are of international and multi-cultural nature, the importance of dealing with them is underlined. This paper takes a different approach towards ameliorating these problems, namely that of psychological group training before a mission.     

基于Modelica的载人航天器环热控系统建模仿真

为了给载人航天器乘员营造一个良好的生活工作环境,需要将众多空气环境参数控制在指标范围内。文章结合载人航天器专业知识,基于Modelica统一建模语言建立了一种载人航天器环热控系统仿真分析模型;利用该模型仿真分析了温湿度控制风机取不同转速时,载人航天器空气环境参数随乘员代谢水平的变化趋势。结果表明:在其他参数不变的情况下,温湿度控制风机转速越大,空气温度越低,相对湿度越高;乘员代谢水平变化对空气环境参数有显著影响,通过调节系统运行参数可将各空气参数有效控制在指标范围内。舱体温度与氧分压、二氧化碳分压、舱体相对湿度有密切关系且相互影响,不可单独分析。