Through essays on topics including survival in extreme environments and the multicultural dimensions of exploration, readers will gain an understanding of the psychological challenges that have faced the space program since its earliest days. An engaging read for those interested in space, history, and psychology alike, this is a highly relevant read as we stand poised on the edge of a new era of spaceflight. Each essay also explicitly addresses the history of the psychology of space exploration.

The first edition of this book was voted Winner of the 2004 International Academy of Astronautics Life Sciences Award. The second edition deals with psychological, psychiatric, and psychosocial issues that affect people who live and work in space. Unlike other books that focus on anecdotal reports and ground-based simulation studies, this book emphasizes the findings from psychological research conducted during actual space missions. Both authors have been active in such research.

This book captures the official reports from the European Space Agency (ESA) study, Technologies and Techniques for Psychological Support of astronauts during exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. The study was commissioned by the ESA in 2005 even before the UK Space Agency was formed in 2010. The need for the European Space Agency study of technologies and techniques for psychological support during long-duration exploration missions comes from a human desire for space exploration, which can be realised in the near future. This undertaking is honourable and exciting but is challenging even for the most mentally prepared and trained astronauts and cosmonauts. The crew will travel to where no human has been before, to farther parts of the solar system, and the crew will need to be dependent on each other and aware that they will be without any hope of rescue in case of an unforeseen mentally challenging or life-threatening event. Hence, the challenge extends to scientists and industry to devise techniques and technologies that can support and help the crew on exploration missions. Long-duration exploration missions to the Moon or Mars will pose new critical psychological issues to space crews, compared to Low Earth Orbit flights. Most psychological support measures in use today are employed in-flight. Examples are regular private conferences with psychologists, regular conferences with family, resupplies, uplink of news, visiting crews etc. However due to communication delays and mission characteristics these measures will be possible only in a limited way. Human space exploration is a test of human abilities, specifically, extending our knowledge and understanding of human capabilities and limitations. Therefore much more emphasis will have to be placed on support measures that reduce the risk of mission critical psychological problems. Space mission is also a test of technology and how this can provide efficient support throughout the duration of a long mission. The book consists of three parts: - The first part describes psychological challenges, constraints, existing solutions and their applicability for Mars and Moon missions. - The focus of the second part is a formulation of a global baseline concept for future psychological support. - The third part of the book consolidates information in a global baseline concept for psychological support during exploratory missions with the recommendations and development plan. www.iyawhiteley.com www.biotriz.com

In Psychology and Human Performance in Space Programs: Extreme Application, operations experts from multiple space agencies, with support from spaceflight researchers, outline existing and proposed operations for selecting, training, and supporting space crews who currently live and work on the International Space Station, and who are preparing for future missions to the moon and Mars. Highlighting applied psychology in spaceflight whilst acknowledging real-world complexities that occur when integrating across an international, multi-agency collective, this volume provides both historical and current perspectives toward spaceflight operations, with expert contributions from NASA and international partners such as the Japanese Space Agency, Russian space researchers, and the Canadian Space Agency. Helpfully outlining the progress that has been made so far, this book includes topics such as the selection and hiring of astronauts, the process of training a crew for a mission to Mars, and workload and mission planning. Discussing operational psychology in space and on the ground, this book looks to the future of research and operational needs for future missions to Mars, with an essay from astronaut Dr. Don Pettit on his experiences in space and how the Mars mission will challenge us in new ways. This second of two volumes will be of interest to professionals in the field of human factors and psychology in extreme environments.

Using interviews with and writings by astronauts and cosmonauts, discusses how viewing the Earth from space and from the moon affect space explorers' perceptions of the world and humanity, and how those changes are likewise felt in contemporary society. The author views space exploration and eventual colonization as an inevitable step in the evolution of human society and consciousness, one which offers new perspectives on the problems facing us down here on Earth. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Awarded the 2016 International Academy of Astronautics Life Science Book Award! Using anecdotal reports from astronauts and cosmonauts, and the results from studies conducted in space analog environments on Earth and in the actual space environment, this book broadly reviews the various psychosocial issues that affect space travelers. Unlike other books that are more technical in format, this text is targeted for the general public. With the advent of space tourism and the increasing involvement of private enterprise in space, there is now a need to explore the impact of space missions on the human psyche and on the interpersonal relationships of the crewmembers. Separate chapters of the book deal with psychosocial stressors in space and in space analog environments; psychological, psychiatric, interpersonal, and cultural issues pertaining to space missions; positive growth-enhancing aspects of space travel; the crew-ground interaction; space tourism; countermeasures for dealing with space; and unique aspects of a trip to Mars, the outer solar system, and interstellar travel.