A case study of human factor & anthropological investigations in space mission simulations and analogs.

Paper number

IAC-19,E5,IP,5,x51583

Author

Mr. Benjamin Pothier, France, Plymouth University

Coauthor

Dr. Irene Lia Schlacht, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Michaela Musilova, Slovak Republic, Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA)

Coauthor

Dr. Alessandro Alcibiade, Italy, University of Pisa

Coauthor

Prof. Bernard Foing, The Netherlands, ESA/ESTEC, ILEWG & VU Amsterdam

Coauthor

Mr. Henk Rogers, United States, International MoonBase Alliance

Year

2019

Abstract

We present in this paper the results of a  human factor study conducted during an analog Moon mission simulation at  HI-SEAS Habitat in Hawaii in February and March 2019. The mission was
 a part of the EuroMoonMars campaign of the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG).the Mission was organized at the HI-SEAS Habitat, a facility used previously by the University of Hawaii and NASA for mostly psychological  studies related to future missions to  Mars.  

During the 15 day mission, a team of 6 people, including the first author himself, lived in complete isolation and in semi-confinement to simulate a Moon mission. Daily tasks included for example the rigid procedure of extra vehicular activities, such as the process of waiting in the airlock while wearing helmets and the life support system to simulate decompression before to being able to exit the station.

The first author coordinated during the mission human factor & anthropological investigations. Those investigations consisted of:
A free creative and artistic activity. This activity aims to broad the application of space exploration from the scientific and engineering side also to the cultural one.
A holistic group discussion to record the lessons learned from the team called human factors debriefing
An anthropological diary to record the whole mission from a holistic and cultural perspective
An investigation on Performance and Stress in Isolation (PSI) aimed to find out new non intrusive methodology to countermeasure stress in isolation and to implement it on smart environment and robotic  to enhance Human Performances in future long terms interplanetary Missions.

We present in this paper the results of those investigations. 


First Author Description :
Mr  Benjamin is a PhD Candidate in Anthropology, Arts and Architecture, professional explorer and fellow International of the Explorers Club,  he has been taking part to various I.C.E environments expeditions, that brought him from the northernmost human settlement on Earth to it's driest desert and the slopes of volcanoes in Hawaii, Iceland and Chile.

Abstract document

IAC-19,E5,IP,5,x51583.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-19,E5,IP,5,x51583.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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