Psychology of Space Exploration

Patterns in Crew-Initiated Photography of Earth from the ISS—

Is Earth Observation a Salutogenic Experience?

eralized linear models in SAS). Hypothesis 4a was tested using regression, while
general linear model repeated measures analysis was used for hypothesis 4b.

RESULTS

From December 2001 (Expedition 4) through October 2005 (Expedition 11),
crewmembers took 144,180 images that had accurate time and date data automat-
ically recorded by the camera. Of time-stamped photographs, 84.5 percent were
crew-initiated and not in response to CEO requests.

Comparison of Variables

These comparisons were made by examining the degree to which the variables
are related (correlation), the average for each variable (mean), and the degree to
which the values for a variable differ from its average (standard deviation). See table
1 for all measures included in the study. For subsequent analyses, we considered only
self-initiated images and excluded images taken in response to CEO requests.
The correlations presented in table 1 provide a preliminary examination of the
data rather than a formal test of the hypotheses. When conducting statistical analy-
ses, correlations typically are examined first, and then a priori hypotheses are tested
using more robust statistical approaches. Based on the correlations in table 1, the
following inferences can be made.
A crewmember with a camera in hand was more likely to take self-initiated
photos in addition to the requested images (self-initiated images were correlated
with requested images—r = .36, p < .01). Also, 800 millimeters was the focal length
more frequently chosen when crewmembers took images of their own choice, even
though taking images at 800 millimeters was more challenging (self-initiated images
were correlated with images taken at an 800-millimeter focal length—r =  .41,
p < .01). Further, crewmembers also were more likely to take self-initiated images
of geographic areas of Earth that were of personal interest to them (r = .25, p < .01).
A crew containing a member, for example, whose childhood home was in a small
town in Illinois, would be more likely to take images of that area than of areas not
holding personal significance for any member of that crew.