The study had three main aspects: a) The administration of pre-mission 

 and post-mission attitude questionnaires to determine each aquanaut's 

 attitude towards communications in general, and the two-way closed 

 circuit television system specifically; b) evaluation of the use of the 

 various communications systems by each aquanaut during their mission 

 through continuous direct observation using closed circuit audio and 

 video monitors; c) random video-taping of communications on the first 

 six missions was conducted and reviewed to obtain content evaluations of 

 the communications not otherwise available. 



SUBJECTS 



Subjects were twenty-nine male and female scientists and engineers. Five 

 of the twenty-nine were women, four of whom were scientists. The female 

 engineer was the youngest aquanaut, twenty- three, as well as the least 

 experienced with less than six months diving experience. Of the twenty- 

 nine, twenty- four were scientists, ten of whom had Ph.D's, and ten 

 had Masters Degrees. The average age was 31. 1 years. The average male 

 age was 31.8, average female age was 27. k, average scientist age was 

 30.2, and average engineer age was 35.^- The oldest aquanaut, forty- five, 

 was also one of the habitat engineers. Professionally, the aquanauts 

 came from private industry, government agencies, and universities, and 

 ranged from students to professors to researchers to engineers. The 

 scientists were chosen by a scientific review board which evaluated more 

 than one hundred submitted proposals. Three criteria were used: (a) Value 

 of research to be conducted to extend man's knowledge of the ocean--its 

 environment and marine life; (b) scientific qualifications to complete the 

 research proposed; and (c) qualified scuba, divers. 



DISCUSSION 



The basic or primary hypothesis that two-way closed- circuit television is 

 necessary for both manned spa.ce and manned underwater expeditions where 

 the crew lives in a relatively confined, isolated and hazardous environment 

 has been supported by the data, both subjectively and objectively, and 

 qualitatively a.s well as quantitatively. Analysis of the video tapes 

 showed that crew used the video phone to help trouble shoot and solve 

 equipment malfunctions in the habitat. They also used it to exchange 

 professional information with their colleagues on the surface. Both of 

 these uses have particular significance for missions where the aquanauts 

 and astronauts might otherwise have to abort a mission due to their in- 

 ability to solve a mechanical problem, or they might spend needless hours 

 examining samples and take up necessary space bringing back geological or 

 biological specimens which could otherwise be discussed and evaluated by 

 colleagues remaining on the surface. The questionnaires did reflect the 

 aquanauts' belief in the value and use of the video- phone for professional 

 purposes. Additionally, the observed and recorded uses of the video phone 

 showed a nearly four- to- one use for operational purposes over social 

 purposes for the system. 



VIII-64 



