Psychological and sociological effects of spaceflight

In preparing for such an expedition, important psychological, interpersonal, and psychiatric issues occurring in human spaceflight missions are under study by national space agencies and others.The researchers found that, over time, these isolated groups showed decreases in the scope and content of their communications and a filtering in what they said to outside personnel, which was termed psychological closing.[16] In a study of 12 ISS cosmonauts, researchers reported that personal values generally remained stable, with those related to the fulfillment of professional activities and good social relationships being rated most highly.[18] In a study of 11 cosmonauts regarding their opinions of possible psychological and interpersonal problems that might occur during a Mars expedition, researchers found several factors to be rated highly: isolation and monotony, distance-related communication delays with the Earth, leadership issues, differences in space agency management styles, and cultural misunderstandings within international crews.Findings included that 88% of the entries dealt with the following categories: Work, Outside Communications, Adjustment, Group Interaction, Recreation/Leisure, Equipment, Events, Organization/Management, Sleep, and Food.In general, the crew members reported that their life in space was not as difficult as they expected prior to launch, despite a 20% increase in interpersonal problems during the second half of the missions.This likely is due to the fact that crew members have been screened psychiatrically for constitutional predispositions to these conditions before launch, so the likelihood of these illnesses developing on-orbit is low.[22] Some astronauts have had difficulties adjusting to the resultant fame and media demands that followed their missions, and similar problems are likely to occur in the future following high-profile expeditions, such as a trip to Mars.Asthenization, a syndrome that includes fatigue, irritability, emotional lability, attention and concentration difficulties, and appetite and sleep problems, has been reported to commonly occur in cosmonauts by Russian flight surgeons.[35] Additionally, the crew members experienced increased feelings of loneliness and perceived lower support from colleagues over time, which had a negative effect on cognitive adaptation.[36] A number of individual differences in terms of sleep pattern, mood, and conflicts with mission control were found and reported using techniques such as wrist actigraphy, the psychomotor vigilance test, and various subjective measures.This was accomplished by the evaluation of fixed video recordings of crew behavior during breakfasts through variations in personal actions, visual interactions, and facial expressions.[citation needed] Furthermore, Kanas points out that during on-orbit or lunar missions a number of interventions have been implemented successfully to support crew member psychological well-being.– discuss] These have included family conferences in real time (i.e., with no appreciable delays), frequent consultations with mission control, and the sending of gifts and favorite foods on resupply ships to enhance morale.
Crew members ( STS-131 ) on the International Space Station (14 April 2010).
Much has been learned from experiences on the International Space Station about important psychological, interpersonal and psychiatric issues that affect people working on-orbit. This information should be incorporated in the planning for future expeditionary missions to a near-Earth asteroid or to Mars.
STS-131International Space Stationlong-duration expeditionary missionsrobotic spacecrafthuman expeditioncrew of four to seven peopleone-way missionslanding on Mars with no return trip plannedtechnologicalphysiologicalbehavioralnational space agenciesNASA Office of Inspector Generalhealth hazards reporthuman spaceflighthuman missioninternational studiespsychologicalinterpersonalcrew membersmission controlAmericanRussiansubjectivepersonal valuesegocentricspace organizationscommunicationEuropean Space AgencypsychiatricanxietydepressionPsychosomaticmanic-depressionschizophreniapsychotherapypsychoactive medicationsAsthenizationfatigueirritabilityemotional labilityattention and concentration difficultiesappetitesleep problemsneurastheniasalutogenicon-orbit near-Earthnear-Earth asteroidautonomousterrestrial mission controlcommunication channelsMars 500 ProgramautonomyInstitute for Biomedical ProblemsMoscowgeologicalplanetarywork autonomygroupthinkcognitiveadaptationactigraphypsychomotor vigilance testpsychosocialselectionlong-durationsuicidalpsychoticstressSpace psychologyAlcohol and spaceflightCentral nervous system effects from radiation exposure during spaceflightColonization of MarsEffects of sleep deprivation in spaceFatigue and sleep loss during spaceflightMars Analog HabitatsOverview effectSpace colonizationSkylab 4Team composition and cohesion in spaceflight missionsBibcodeNational Geographic NewsNew York TimesAP NewsAviation, Space, and Environmental MedicineInternational Astronautical FederationActa Astronaut.Johnson Space CenterInternational Astronautical CongressSpaceflightAstrodynamicsHistoryTimelineSpace RaceRecordsAccidents and incidentsSpace launchSpace policyEuropean UnionNorth KoreaSouth KoreaRussiaSoviet UnionUnited StatesSpace lawOuter Space TreatyRescue AgreementSpace Liability ConventionRegistration ConventionMoon TreatySpace warfareSpace commandSpace forceMilitarisation of spacePrivate spaceflightBillionaire space raceApplicationsAstronomyEarth observationArchaeologyImagery and mappingReconnaissanceWeather and environment monitoringCommunications satelliteInternetTelephoneTelevisionSatellite navigationCommercial use of spaceSpace launch market competitionSpace architectureSpace explorationSpace researchSpace technologySpace weatherAstronautcommercialLife-support systemAnimals in spaceBioastronauticsSpace suitExtravehicular activityWeightlessnessSpace toiletSpace tourismSpace divingVostokMercuryVoskhodGeminiApolloSkylabApollo–SoyuzSpace ShuttleShuttle–MirShenzhouTiangongNew ShepardArtemisEffect of spaceflight on the human bodySpace adaptation syndromeHealth threat from cosmic raysSpace and survivalSpace medicineSpace nursingSpace sexologySpacecraftLaunch vehicleRocketSpace capsuleOrbital moduleReentry capsuleService moduleSpaceplaneSatelliteSpace probeLanderSelf-replicating spacecraftSpace telescopeSpacecraft propulsionRocket engineElectric propulsionSolar sailGravity assistSub-orbitalOrbitalGeocentricGeosynchronousInterplanetaryInterstellarIntergalacticDirect ascentEscape velocityExpendablereusable launch systemsLaunch padNon-rocket spacelaunchSpaceportGround segmentFlight controllerGround stationMission control centerArtificial gravityAstronautical hygieneNeuroscience in spaceSpace exposureSpace foodEbullismIllness and injuries during spaceflightMedical treatment during spaceflightSpaceflight osteopeniaAerospace Medical AssociationNational Space Biomedical Research InstituteRubicon FoundationSpace Nursing SocietyAdverse health effects from lunar dust exposureCardiac rhythm problems during space flightEpidemiology data for low-linear energy transfer radiationSleep in spaceIntervertebral disc damage and spaceflightList of microorganisms tested in outer spaceRadiobiology evidence for protons and HZE nucleiReduced muscle mass, strength and performance in spaceRenal stone formation in spaceSpaceflight radiation carcinogenesisVisual impairment due to intracranial pressure