NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Behavioral Issues Associated with Isolation and Confinement: Review and Analysis of Astronaut Journals (Journals), is studying the behavioral effects of life in isolation and confinement using surveys and journals kept by the crew. By quantifying the importance of behavioral issues to long-duration crews, the study will help NASA design equipment and procedures to allow astronauts to best cope with isolation and long-duration space flight.

Principal Investigator

Jack W. Stuster, Ph.D., Anacapa Sciences, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Payload Developer

Johnson Space Center, Human Research Program, Houston, TX

Sponsoring Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Expeditions Assigned

|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|

Previous ISS Missions

Journals have been performed continuously on ISS since Expedition 8.

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Experiment/Payload Description

Research Summary

• Isolation and confinement on long duration space missions can affect crew health and morale, which are important factors that can influence mission success.



• This study converts behavioral and human factors data contained in journal entries into quantitative data on the importance of the various behavioral issues involved in long-duration isolation and confinement.



• Systematically analyzing the content of astronaut journals will allow the design of procedures and equipment to support human performance during exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Description

A previous content analysis of journals maintained during long-duration expeditions on Earth (e.g., to the Antarctic) provided quantitative data on which to base a rank-ordering of behavioral issues in terms of importance. Journals uses the same content evaluation techniques on journals kept by ISS crewmembers. The objective is to identify equipment, habitat, and procedural features that can help humans when adjusting to isolation and confinement while ensuring they remain effective and productive during future long-duration space flights.

While on orbit, crewmembers make journal entries at least three times a week in a personal journal. In format, their journal can be either electronic (i.e., using an ISS laptop) or paper. In addition to the journal entries, participating crewmembers complete a brief electronic questionnaire at the mid-point of their Expeditions.

Studies on Earth have shown that analyzing the content of journals and diaries is an effective means of identifying issues that are most important to the person recording his or her thoughts. The method is based on the assumption that the frequency that an issue is mentioned in a journal reflects the importance of that issue or category to the writer. The tone of each entry (positive, negative, or neutral) and phase of the Expedition are also variables of interest. Study results will lead to recommendations for the design of equipment, facilities, procedures, and training to help sustain behavioral adjustment and performance during long-duration Expeditions on ISS, or to the moon, Mars, and beyond. These studies can also assist on Earth with Antarctic missions, service on submarines, etc., anywhere humans choose to work in confinement or isolation.

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Applications

Space Applications

Studies conducted on Earth have shown that analyzing the content of journals and diaries is an effective method for identifying the issues that are most important to a person. The method is based on the reasonable assumption that the frequency that an issue or category of issues is mentioned in a journal reflects the importance of that issue or category to the writer. The tone of each entry (positive, negative, or neutral) and phase of the expedition also are variables of interest. Study results will lead to recommendations for the design of equipment, facilities, procedures, and training to help sustain behavioral adjustment and performance during long-duration space expeditions to the ISS, Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Earth Applications

Results from this study could help to improve the behavioral performance of people living and working under similar isolated conditions here on Earth.

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Operations

Operational Requirements

While on orbit, crewmembers will make journal entries at least 3 times per week in a personal journal. The journal will be downlinked to the PI on the last Monday of each month and one final time at the end of the increment via encrypted transmission. A total of ten crewmembers are needed as subjects in the Journals investigation.

Operational Protocols

The journal can either be electronic (e.g. using a laptop) or it can be a paper journal (e.g. using a Green Record Book). In addition to the journal entries, the crewmembers will also complete a very brief questionnaire at the mid-point of their expeditions. The questionnaire only exists in an electronic form.

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Results/More Information

Data collection is ongoing, and the results will be analyzed when all of the journals are available.

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Related Web Sites

Anacapa Sciences, Inc.

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Publications

Results Publications

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Related Publications

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Images

Crewmembers participating in Journals use laptops aboard the ISS to make entries of their thoughts for the day.
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NASA Image: ISS010E6816 - Expedition 10 crewmembers Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov participated in the Journals investigation.
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NASA Image: ISS012E14244 - Astronaut William S. McArthur Jr. (right), Expedition 13 commander and NASA space station science officer, and cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, pose for a holiday photo in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. McArthur and Tokarev are holding Christmas stockings and wearing Santa Claus hats. A small Christmas tree and Santa Claus figurine sit on the gallery table in the foreground. The primary focus of the Journals investigation is to help the crew cope with isolation during long duration exploration.
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NASA Image: ISS013E43120 - Cosmonaut Pavel V. Vinogradov (left), Expedition 13 Commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, and astronaut Jeffrey N. Williams, NASA Space Station Science Officer and Flight Engineer, pose for a picture on ISS. The primary focus of the Journals investigation is to help the crew cope with isolation during long duration exploration.
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NASA Image: ISS013E66729 - Flight Engineer-2 Thomas Reiter (left), ISS Expedition 13 Commander, Pavel V. Vinogradov (middle) and Flight Engineer-1, Jeffrey N. Williams (right), pose for a picture with EVA suits on ISS. The primary focus of the Journals investigation is to help the crew cope with isolation during long duration exploration.
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NASA Image: ISS013E07975 - Crewmembers participating in Journals use laptops aboard the ISS to make entries of their thoughts for the day.
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NASA Image: ISS015E10579 - The primary focus of the Journals investigation is to help NASA design equipment and procedures to allow astronauts to best cope with isolation during long-duration exploration.
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NASA Image: ISS013E05853 - The primary focus of the Journals investigation is to help NASA design equipment and procedures to allow astronauts to best cope with isolation during long-duration exploration .
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Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office