The Human Element in Space: Lessons from Antarctica

The ability of humans to adapt and perform in an extreme environment during periods of prolonged isolation is influenced by a number of social, cultural, and psychological parameters. These parameters must be taken into consideration in the design, construction, and operation of space facilities and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Palinkas, Lawrence A.
Other Authors: NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND BETHESDA MD
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1988
Subjects:
Psychology
Manned Spacecraft
Human Factors Engineering & Man Machine System
*ISOLATION
*HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
*ADJUSTMENT(PSYCHOLOGY)
COMMUNITIES
GROUP DYNAMICS
HUMANS
PARAMETERS
PERSONNEL SELECTION
CULTURE
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
CONFINED ENVIRONMENTS
WINTERING OVER
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
PE62770A
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA193440
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA193440
Description
Summary:The ability of humans to adapt and perform in an extreme environment during periods of prolonged isolation is influenced by a number of social, cultural, and psychological parameters. These parameters must be taken into consideration in the design, construction, and operation of space facilities and off-world bases. This paper describes the human experience in the Antarctic and examines its relevance to the design and operation of manned space facilities and off-world communities. The author concludes that the human element in space may be enhanced by altering the environment or developing programs to strengthen the processes of adaptation and adjustment to this environment. Keywords: Psychological adjustment; Social organization; Group dynamics; Personnel selection; Cultural systems; Overwintering.

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