without sacrificing space in a limited volume vehicle, becomes an important 

 design factor. 



Storage Areas 



No matter how much stowage space is made available at the beginning of a 

 mission, it generally turns out to be both inadequate and improperly used. 

 Methods for improving storage facility design and utilization must be 

 derived to optimize the limited volume available. Accessibility of 

 frequently used items as well as retrieval of equipment that is important 

 even though seldom used is a challenge to the vehicle designer. The study 

 attempted to determine how available stowage facilities were used and to 

 identify deficiencies. 



Work Area 



The primary purpose of a mission is to accomplish specified tasks. Design of 

 a habitat to facilitate work efforts is frequently not adequate, either due 

 to poor task-equipment analyses studies or their implementation or because 

 the available volume in the vehicle is not sufficient to provide all the 

 work area required. The manner in which the aquanauts coped with this 

 problem, either by sharing or by allotting permanent space, and the effects 

 on crew dynamics were studied. 



Off-Duty Activities 



Although almost all of the aquanauts felt that they would have little or no 

 time for off-duty leisure activities, a substantial amount of time was spent 

 in this manner. Off-duty activities increased with the mission duration. 

 The aquanauts were allowed to take personal preference equipment with them. 

 What these were and the extent to which they were used was observed. Also 

 noted was the use of on-board recreational gear such as television, radio, 

 pre-recorded tapes, books, and closed circuit TV. Group participation and 

 individual preferences were recorded. 



Illumination and Decor 



The aquanauts were able to change the level of illumination in the various 

 rooms as they desired. Different light levels were selected according to 

 the activities in which they were involved. Decor was relatively fixed, 

 but subject to some modification by the crew members. It is an important 

 variable for missions requiring long periods of confinement. 



Housekeeping 



Housekeeping practices and facilities are important from both a health and a 

 morale standpoint. Allowing refuse to collect could provide a haven for 

 microbiological contamination. It can also reflect crew attitudes and 

 morale. Provisions for housekeeping were limited since most of the trash 

 was passed out of the habitat for collection. Who assumed unassigned house- 

 keeping chores such as cooking, cleaning up, washing dishes was noted as well 

 as who cluttered the areas and misused facilities. 



VIII-10 



