Psychology of Space Exploration
trates the program’s research plan through the timescale of early lunar missions of
extended duration.”^83
We can see the preliminary outlines of a comprehensive and continuing pro-
gram in spaceflight behavioral health. A comprehensive program in spaceflight
behavioral health will have to be broad-based; be interdisciplinary; and address
issues at the individual, small-group, and organizational levels. It will require mul-
tiple, convergent methods including archival research, field observations, and both
field and laboratory experiments. Research falling under this umbrella must meet
high scientific standards, achieve flight certification, and be palatable to astronauts.
Only with continued interest and support from NASA—and from psychologists—
will spaceflight behavioral health flourish. Long-term success will require accessi-
ble, peer-reviewed publications and efforts to target young investigators to replace
those who retire. An ongoing behavioral database could prove very useful. For over
15 years, David Musson, Robert Helmreich, and their associates have been devel-
oping a database that includes astronauts as well as professionals who work in other
demanding environments.^84 As they point out, this kind of database provides many
opportunities for studies in such areas as the effectiveness of recruiting and selec-
tion procedures, performance changes over time, and attrition.
Psychology is in a better position to be of help. Many of the theories and tools
that are proving useful today were not available at the dawn of the Space Age.
New (relative to 1960) resources include cognitive models, which emphasize our
information processing power, and humanistic or “positive psychology” models that
stress people’s positive, striving nature.^85 These new models have allowed psychol-
ogists a fresh take on many important issues. Human factors psychologists bene-
fit from modern computer modeling technologies and increasing evidence of the
importance of taking the person into account when developing a human or human-
robotic system.
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Human Research Program Integrated Research Plan,
Supplement A1, Behavioral Health and Performance, 2008, available at http://humanresearch.jsc.
nasa.gov/elements/smo/docs/bhp_irp_supplemental_v1.pdf (accessed 21 May 2010). - D. M. Musson and R. L. Helmreich, “ Long-Term Personality Data Collection in Support
of Spaceflight Analogue Research,” Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 76, no. 6, sect.
II (2005): B119–B125. - Suedfeld, “Invulnerability, Coping, Salutogenesis, Integration.”