Life Sciences in the Space Program 



Recommendation 



• Research should continue on the effects of different command structures on 

 crew performance and psychological health and the relationships between 

 ground command and the space crew, particularly regarding possible shifts 

 in locus-of-control patterns. 



Creiv Motivation 

 Finding 



• It is necessary to develop the means to maintain high levels of crew motivation 

 throughout long-duration space missions. 



Recommendations 



• Research should be intensified on the variables that influence individual 

 and crew productivity. These variables include the causes of performance 

 decrements, such as certain types and amounts of work, task scheduling, 

 and crew fatigue. 



• An assessment should be made of work requirements and task scheduling to 

 achieve and maintain a high level of crew motivation and performance. 



• Empirical research is needed to determine the most effective work/rest 

 schedules for extended-duration missions on the Space Station and other 

 future space-flight missions. 



Reference List 



1. Regal, D.M. 1986. Human Performance in Space. In Proceedings of the 

 Human Factors Society 30th Annual Meeting 1, 365-369. Santa Monica, CA: 

 Human Factors Society. 



2. Bluth, B.J. 1981. Soviet Space Stress. Science 81 2:30-35. 



3. Bluth, B.J. 1982. The Psychology and Safety of Weightlessness. Paper 

 presented at the 15th Symposium on Space Rescue and Safety, Paris, France. 



4. Bluth, B.J. January 1986. Sociology on the Space Station. Space World 8-10. 



5. Alexander, Joseph K., Philip C. Johnson, Percival D. McCormack, David C. 

 Nagel, Sam L. Pool, M. Rhea Seddon, Joseph C. Sharp, and Frank M. 

 Sul/man. January 1987. Advanced Missions with Humans in Space. No citv ot 

 publication given: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 



6. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Office of Space Science and 

 Applications. Life Sciences Division. A.E. Nicogossian. October N84. Human 

 Capabilities in Space. NASA Technical Memorandum 87360. Washington, DC: 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 



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