Mon, Jul 18, 2011
Examines What Factors Affect Astronauts During Long Duration
Space Flights
NASA's History Program Office is releasing a new book that
examines the different psychological factors that affect astronauts
during space travel, especially long-duration missions.
The book, "Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary
Research in Historical Perspective," is a collection of essays from
leading space psychologists. They place their recent research in
historical context by looking at changes in space missions and
psychosocial science over the past 50 years. What makes up the
"right stuff" for astronauts has changed as the early space race
gave way to international cooperation. Different coping skills and
sensibilities are now necessary to communicate across cultural
boundaries and deal with interpersonal conflicts.
"The essays give a comprehensive overview of this complex
subject, providing novel insights for behavioral researchers and
historians alike," NASA's Chief Historian Bill Barry said. "The
data is important as we work to send astronauts to Mars, which will
mean longer missions without real-time communication with family
and friends leading to increased potential psychosocial
stresses."
The book's editor, Douglas A. Vakoch, is a professor in the
Department of Clinical Psychology at the California Institute of
Integral Studies in San Francisco. He also is a manager at the SETI
Institute.
The book is available for purchase through the Government Printing
Office.
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