Safety, wellbeing and user-oriented design considerations for space missions
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.1.11
- Author
Prof. Paivi Jukola, Finnish Astronautical Society, Finland
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Comfort, ergonomics and spatial quality are fundamental factors for our wellbeing and optimum performance at workplace and at home. People as decision-makers in complex systems are the most critical element for system safety, reliability and performance. Especially in remote locations and extreme environments psychological and social stress can become most harmful for the overall success of the mission. Accidents and human mistakes take more often place when people have to perform under psychological or physical stress, while being tired, hungry or bored. The surrounding noise level, the uncomfortable temperature and the general spatial chaos of objects and devices makes the environment stressful. Stress can makes life not only less productive, enjoyable but even dangerous. It is easier to keep the full motivation and concentration in a task that requires special skills and action than with normal routine matters. The periods of active work and rest during space-missions differ greatly from the ones on Earth. The spatial zones for private, semi-public and public spaces are stronger on Earth. The paper discusses the optimal crew performance during space missions by using common architectural design principles, the concepts of ambiance, atmosphere, user oriented design and ergonomics by industrial designers, and the concept of Flow (Csikszentmihalyi). The discussion includes observations from a water tank training session in Tsukuba by JAXA. The paper proposes that by shifting the focus into the concept of general well being, from the concept of safety, superior crew performance and safer missions can be accomplished. A team of industrial designers and engineers is the key for successful product and service design for automobiles, airplanes and vessels, from personal computers to condition training devices for sports. The oldest architectural and spatial design principles help to achieve dynamically changing positive and energetic, calming or harmonious atmospheres, that become even more meaningful when people are obliged to live and perform in very limited spatial quality, or in extreme hostile conditions and in isolation. Mass-customization and customization enables people to modify objects and spaces according to their personal needs and desires. When the user is given the opportunity and the freedom to choose and to improve one’s own work and living environment, the user-experience becomes more enjoyable and the human performance improves.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)