Antarctic Psychological Health as a Space Analogue

• Main Author: Norris, K
• Other Authors: Short, W, Cairns, I
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: National Space Society of Australia Ltd 2017
• Subjects: Psychology of extreme environments; Psychological health; Space analogue; Extreme environments; Relationship dynamics; Psychological interventions; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/25612/; http://www.nssa.com.au/16asrc/

Antarctica is one of the most extreme environments on Earth. The physical,psychological, social and technological parameters associated with this environment parallelthose found in space. For this reason, Antarctica is well-recognised as a space analogue. Byextension, research investigating psychological health in Antarctica has applications forsupporting human wellbeing during both short and long-duration manned space missions.However, to date such research has largely overlooked the impacts on relationship dynamicswith those left behind, including the family unit. Consideration of these issues is vital, as it caninfluence astronaut health, wellbeing and performance far beyond the confines of the familyunit into the spaceflight experience itself.