Andrew Yee
May 16th 06, 05:29 AM
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
Houston, Texas
Contact:
Lauren Hammit, 713-798-7595
May 9, 2006
In undersea habitat, aquanauts learn about teamwork and task performance for
the moon and Mars
In isolated environments, astronauts, flight crews, offshore workers and
military forces must maintain vigilance and work together to ensure a safe
and successful mission.
Between daily living, telemedicine activities and moon-walking simulations,
participants in the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 9
project helped National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
researchers study performance ability, problem-solving and team cohesion
issues that could affect long-duration space flights.
"The NEEMO undersea mission is a similar experience in key ways to what
future space travelers might encounter," said Dr. David Dinges, team leader
of NSBRI's Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team and principal
investigator on the project. "Crew members live and work together in a small
space, isolated from the outside world, and must effectively perform
difficult tasks at a high level of alertness, both as individuals and a
team."
Physician astronaut, Dr. Dave Williams of Canada, led the NEEMO undersea
excursion in Aquarius off the Florida coast. Aquarius, the only underwater
laboratory in the world, is owned and funded by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and operated by the University of North Carolina
at Wilmington. Two additional astronauts, Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, and
Dr. Tim Broderick, a physician at the University of Cincinnati, rounded out
the crew. Jim Buckley and Ross Hein of UNCW provided undersea engineering
support.
The NSBRI study used surveys, physiologic sensors, video analysis, cognitive
tests, journaling and the testing of new technologies designed for isolated
conditions. One such technology involved computer recognition of
participants' facial expressions, recorded on video during telemedicine
activities, to inconspicuously detect levels of psychological distress.
Refining behavior-monitoring technologies so that astronauts and aquanauts
barely notice them is a goal of the project.
"Each experiment is minimally demanding and quick, requiring only a few
minutes on most days," Dinges said.
While the NEEMO 9 crew members practiced remote surgical techniques, worked
with medical robotics and prepared for extra-vehicular activities (EVA),
their interaction with each other and with NEEMO's Mission Control was
filmed and recorded. "We're interested in seeing how they reacted to
challenges, made decisions and solved problems, but the most valuable
element was capturing lessons learned from every task," said Dinges,
Director of the Unit for Experimental Psychiatry at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Professor of Psychology.
Participants recorded thoughts and experiences in daily journals,
highlighting what they wanted future astronauts and aquanauts to know about
the technologies and protocols being tested.
"Even with extensive planning, little glitches occur with devices used in an
underwater space. Part of our project asked crew members to communicate how
well the procedures and technologies worked in this kind of environment,"
Dinges said. "What did the aquanauts think of them? How were they using the
equipment? What were their reactions to wearing certain technologies and
responding to others? Were they easy to use and helpful? Their feedback is
important data."
To assess physiologic reactions to the isolated environment, crew members
provided saliva samples for analysis of cortisol and stress levels and wore
a sensor vest to record how their body was reacting physiologically to the
experience. Another component addressed sleep and circadian rhythm
disruption. Participants wore a watch-like device that recorded sleep/wake
activity patterns and light exposure. A fourth component involved performing
a battery of cognitive tests before and after scheduled tasks and EVAs. Data
collected from each of the study's components will be analyzed by NSBRI
researchers post-mission.
The project aims to refine real-time behavior monitoring and develop models
that predict how crews might perform under remote conditions. "Ultimately,
the measurements in this project will provide much needed feasibility
information on how effectively we can measure individual and group behavior
and performance in extreme environments. From there, we can develop
technology that will help maintain an astronaut's ability to perform in
space," Dinges said.
NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health
risks related to long-duration space flight. The Institute's research and
education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United
States.
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.nsbri.org/NewsPublicOut/Photos/two_diver_EVA.jpg (202KB)]
NEEMO-9 astronaut/aquanaut Nicole P. Stott and University of Cincinnati
physician Tim Broderick perform survey and mapping activities to record the
coordinates of landmarks of interest around Aquarius during an EVA.
Throughout the mission, NSBRI researchers used the under-sea experience as a
model for studying performance ability, problem-solving and team cohesion
issues that could affect long-duration space flights.
[Image 2:
http://www.nsbri.org/NewsPublicOut/Photos/Dave_Williams_wearing_sensors.jpg
(264KB)]
Aquanaut Dr. Dave Williams wears an ambulatory monitoring system (sensor
vest) to collect physiological data and an Actiwatch (light/motion sensor in
a yellow wristband) to monitor his sleep-wake activity patterns and light
exposure during the mission. Performance data was collected while aquanauts
participated in other activities like observing the remotely-operated
vehicle that was being driven by Mission Control in Houston.
Houston, Texas
Contact:
Lauren Hammit, 713-798-7595
May 9, 2006
In undersea habitat, aquanauts learn about teamwork and task performance for
the moon and Mars
In isolated environments, astronauts, flight crews, offshore workers and
military forces must maintain vigilance and work together to ensure a safe
and successful mission.
Between daily living, telemedicine activities and moon-walking simulations,
participants in the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 9
project helped National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
researchers study performance ability, problem-solving and team cohesion
issues that could affect long-duration space flights.
"The NEEMO undersea mission is a similar experience in key ways to what
future space travelers might encounter," said Dr. David Dinges, team leader
of NSBRI's Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team and principal
investigator on the project. "Crew members live and work together in a small
space, isolated from the outside world, and must effectively perform
difficult tasks at a high level of alertness, both as individuals and a
team."
Physician astronaut, Dr. Dave Williams of Canada, led the NEEMO undersea
excursion in Aquarius off the Florida coast. Aquarius, the only underwater
laboratory in the world, is owned and funded by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and operated by the University of North Carolina
at Wilmington. Two additional astronauts, Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, and
Dr. Tim Broderick, a physician at the University of Cincinnati, rounded out
the crew. Jim Buckley and Ross Hein of UNCW provided undersea engineering
support.
The NSBRI study used surveys, physiologic sensors, video analysis, cognitive
tests, journaling and the testing of new technologies designed for isolated
conditions. One such technology involved computer recognition of
participants' facial expressions, recorded on video during telemedicine
activities, to inconspicuously detect levels of psychological distress.
Refining behavior-monitoring technologies so that astronauts and aquanauts
barely notice them is a goal of the project.
"Each experiment is minimally demanding and quick, requiring only a few
minutes on most days," Dinges said.
While the NEEMO 9 crew members practiced remote surgical techniques, worked
with medical robotics and prepared for extra-vehicular activities (EVA),
their interaction with each other and with NEEMO's Mission Control was
filmed and recorded. "We're interested in seeing how they reacted to
challenges, made decisions and solved problems, but the most valuable
element was capturing lessons learned from every task," said Dinges,
Director of the Unit for Experimental Psychiatry at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Professor of Psychology.
Participants recorded thoughts and experiences in daily journals,
highlighting what they wanted future astronauts and aquanauts to know about
the technologies and protocols being tested.
"Even with extensive planning, little glitches occur with devices used in an
underwater space. Part of our project asked crew members to communicate how
well the procedures and technologies worked in this kind of environment,"
Dinges said. "What did the aquanauts think of them? How were they using the
equipment? What were their reactions to wearing certain technologies and
responding to others? Were they easy to use and helpful? Their feedback is
important data."
To assess physiologic reactions to the isolated environment, crew members
provided saliva samples for analysis of cortisol and stress levels and wore
a sensor vest to record how their body was reacting physiologically to the
experience. Another component addressed sleep and circadian rhythm
disruption. Participants wore a watch-like device that recorded sleep/wake
activity patterns and light exposure. A fourth component involved performing
a battery of cognitive tests before and after scheduled tasks and EVAs. Data
collected from each of the study's components will be analyzed by NSBRI
researchers post-mission.
The project aims to refine real-time behavior monitoring and develop models
that predict how crews might perform under remote conditions. "Ultimately,
the measurements in this project will provide much needed feasibility
information on how effectively we can measure individual and group behavior
and performance in extreme environments. From there, we can develop
technology that will help maintain an astronaut's ability to perform in
space," Dinges said.
NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health
risks related to long-duration space flight. The Institute's research and
education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United
States.
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.nsbri.org/NewsPublicOut/Photos/two_diver_EVA.jpg (202KB)]
NEEMO-9 astronaut/aquanaut Nicole P. Stott and University of Cincinnati
physician Tim Broderick perform survey and mapping activities to record the
coordinates of landmarks of interest around Aquarius during an EVA.
Throughout the mission, NSBRI researchers used the under-sea experience as a
model for studying performance ability, problem-solving and team cohesion
issues that could affect long-duration space flights.
[Image 2:
http://www.nsbri.org/NewsPublicOut/Photos/Dave_Williams_wearing_sensors.jpg
(264KB)]
Aquanaut Dr. Dave Williams wears an ambulatory monitoring system (sensor
vest) to collect physiological data and an Actiwatch (light/motion sensor in
a yellow wristband) to monitor his sleep-wake activity patterns and light
exposure during the mission. Performance data was collected while aquanauts
participated in other activities like observing the remotely-operated
vehicle that was being driven by Mission Control in Houston.