From Earth Analogs to Space: Getting There from Hereadd insight into contributing factors, it is seriously doubtful whether we will ever be
able to accurately predict the entire range and complexity of interaction between
the human-environment factors and the human-human factors. Risk is inherent in
human exploration. Even so, the value of analog experiences cannot be underesti-
mated, regardless of whether they help us grapple with defining our levels of adequate
preparation in the face of ideally predefined levels of “acceptable risk” or even “accept-
able losses” (a concept familiar to those who perform military risk assessments).
One key methodological and validity issue is the added value of utilizing con-
sistent measures across various analogs, allowing more accurate comparisons of indi-
viduals and teams across environments, including space. The necessity to validate
multicultural questionnaires and methodologies that are relevant, reliable, and valid
for international teams is of paramount importance as our reliance on these multi-
national teams will only increase in the future. To that extent, the various research
endeavors in analog environments have contributed significantly to validating such
assessment instruments in a variety of teams.
Findings from analogs have clearly identified three major intervention points
to affect group functioning outcomes:
• Selection: the development of reliable and valid methods of choosing the best
fit at both the individual and the group levels.
• Training: improving the fitness of the group by prepping skills needed for
interpersonal group dynamics as well as high-functioning self-monitoring and
appropriate adaptation.
• Support: taking the form of prevention first, then early, proactive intervention
second. To be successful, research to date strongly suggests that the support
must include the group, the family, and all external participants (e.g., Mission
Control) as partners.
A large portion of the current research represents opportunities to examine team
dynamics and factors that impact team function in real-world groups that have been
brought together for particular purposes that have little to do with research, e.g., geo-
logical field teams. Similarly, examinations of historical sources of past expeditions will
continue to inform and provide additional insight into factors that have contributed
to the success or failure of previous efforts. However, we need larger, more systematic
studies in which the composition of the team is one of the driving factors under inves-
tigation instead of simply an extraneous variable. Our greatest hope lies with the new
research facilities now available and coming online dedicated to such research.