FMARS 2007: Stress and Coping in an Arctic Mars Simulation
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.1.3
- Author
Dr. Sheryl Bishop, The University of Texas Medical Branch, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ryan Kobrick, University of Colorado at Boulder, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Melissa Battler, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Kim Binsted, University of Hawaii, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Introduction: In the summer of 2007, the Mars Society conducted a four-month simulated Mars exploration mission at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS), located in the Canadian High Arctic on Devon Island, Nunavut, quadrupling the previous record for in-situ Mars mission simulations as well as maintaining exceptional levels of isolation. The Canadian-American crew conducted a comprehensive program of geological and microbiological field exploration operating under similar constraints that human explorers would face on Mars. In addition to an intense mission profile of research data collection, analyses and reporting, station maintenance and educational outreach, the team also operated on the Martian ‘sol’, (39 minutes longer than the 24 hour Earth day), for over a month, to evaluate negative effects on crew psychophysiology or mission operations. Methods: Team members were asked to complete the AstroPCI personality inventory as well as an online questionnaire battery dealing with stress, coping and group functioning on five occasions throughout the mission (pre and monthly). Results: Descriptive analyses were conducted at both the group (team and gender) level and participant level. The evidence indicates differences between individual coping styles across time as well as differences in how the genders coped. Evidence for a shift in coping strategies across time in response to increased levels of stress was also present. Overall, stress increased for males while decreasing for females. Males used consistently more Avoidant coping while females utilized Task coping and Social Emotional coping. Conclusions: Simulations situated in environments that are characterized by prolonged true isolation and real environmental challenges appear to provoke true demands for adaptation rather than temporary situational accommodation as has been evidenced by shorter simulations situated in laboratories or more benign environments. Within small groups, differences in coping and resilience to stress can operate to mitigate or exacerbate dysfunction. Both complimentary and compensatory coping patterns were in evidence reflecting the multi-modal nature of adaptation. The verisimilitude of such simulations will play a significant role in whether these constructed analogs provide useful insight into critical issues for long duration space missions.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A1.1.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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