The 4 psychological effects experienced by astronauts in space

These are the most relevant psychological phenomena of being in outer space.

It has been more than 50 years since humans reached the Moon, and since then we have set our sights on much more distant destinations.

However, although many may think that the obstacles to achieving this are only distance, fuel, etc., one of the greatest challenges faced by the major space agencies is to control the psychological effects experienced by astronauts..

The importance of the psychological effects astronauts experience

We've all heard about how demanding the requirements are to become an astronaut. NASA (the American space agency), ESA (the European) or Rocosmos (the Russian), among others, require engineering or similar degrees, an age and height within certain ranges and, above all, an adequate physical condition, without vision defects and that allows the candidate to overcome the tough tests to which he or she will be subjected.

But that is not all. It is no use having a brilliant CV and an athlete's physical shape if the person also has an unstable personality, or at least not strong enough to be able to pass the tough tests. or at least not strong enough to withstand the conditions of stress and extreme isolation that he or she will have to face. Hence the importance of anticipating the psychological effects experienced by astronauts.

Let us think for a moment of the astronauts aboard Apollo 13, Lowell, Swigert and Haise, whose journey was plagued by countless unforeseen events.. These men faced one of the most intense stressful situations ever experienced by any human being, as they were hundreds of thousands of miles away from our planet, surrounded by emptiness, in a broken down ship and losing oxygen.

If any of them had lacked extreme mental fortitude, they might have succumbed to panic and probably would not have been able to overcome all the problems that arose, working as a perfect team, and finally returning to Earth, safe and sound, against all odds. The psychological characteristics of the Apollo 13 astronauts were undoubtedly one of the reasons for their success.

Factors of psychological wear and tear in outer space

Idyllically we can think that traveling into space is one of the most exciting experiences a human being can live. And so it is, but that does not take away from the fact that it is also the most hostile environment we can face. It is a totally different a totally different scenario to the terrestrial environment we are used to, and extreme conditions in every aspect.. Logically, these conditions have a cost, and these are the psychological effects experienced by the astronauts.

We will now review some of the most important characteristics of this environment and what are the repercussions on the psychological conditions of space travelers, which mainly translate into symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Microgravity

The first and most obvious factor is the absence of gravity, a characteristic known as microgravity. Experiencing this sensation may seem very amusing and interesting at first, but in reality we soon begin to feel its consequences. The cardiovascular system is one of the systems that suffer the most, as it has to work twice as hard to pump Blood throughout the body.

This, among many other things produces a sensation of headache, a kind of migraine, as we lack the effect of the earth's gravity to draw blood to the body.This is due to the lack of the effect of the earth's gravity to attract the blood downward and prevent it from being retained in the head. In addition, dust particles in the air cannot fall to the ground, and are therefore breathed in more frequently, which increases allergies and aggravates the headache problem.

On a psychological level, this very annoying sensation, not very intense but constant, is a source of stress and mental exhaustion and mental exhaustion for which it is necessary to be properly prepared, otherwise it can affect the performance of the different activities performed on board by the astronauts.

2. Isolation

Obviously, another of the main characteristics of space missions is the isolation they entail. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are 408 kilometers above the Earth, surrounded only by a vacuum.. Missions have very specific durations, which means that once you arrive at the ISS, there is no option to return until the scheduled time is up.

This means that, once aboard the spacecraft, they are aware that for several days, weeks, even in some cases months, they will have no chance to see their loved ones or to move beyond the narrow corridors of a metal structure that will float steadily above the planet. Any situation that occurs there will have to be solved by them and their companions.

Logically, not everyone is prepared for a situation of absolute isolation like this. All astronaut candidates must have adequate psychological profiles for this purpose and also to guarantee as far as possible the correct management of interpersonal relationships with the rest of the astronaut's colleagues.This is a key factor to take into account in order to control the psychological effects experienced by astronauts.

These people will be the only human beings they will see for a long period of time, and they will do so under really stressful working conditions and in a physical environment of extreme characteristics. It is essential to ensure that there is a good relationship between all of them, that they cooperate and that there is a positive atmosphere, especially considering that they will meet people from very different regions and cultures.

Therefore, one of the characteristics of most one of the characteristics of most of the astronauts is their affability and ease of relating to their fellow astronauts.We have already seen that it is an essential factor to ensure a good coexistence and thus guarantee the good development of the missions. Let's think that any interpersonal incident, any small argument, can be fatal for the atmosphere on the ship or on the station.

3. Sleep

Sleep problems are another of the main factors to be taken into account.. On a spacecraft, circadian cycles begin to experience problems. The concept of day and night disappears, and we can see sunrise and sunset every few minutes, so we lose the solar reference.

Added to this are the high-decibel sounds that are constantly heard on the space station, as well as the tasks that have to be performed at very specific times, which means that they have to wake up "at night" regularly, if the mission requires it. Astronauts generally sleep two hours less in space than on Earth.

Sleep is a critical restorative element, and without adequate rest, both physical and psychological without adequate rest, both physical and psychological effects kick in quickly.. This translates into fatigue, irritability, and poorer task performance. That is why it is common for astronauts to use pharmacology to help them fall asleep and thus reduce these effects as much as possible.

4. Stress

In reality, stress is a consequence of all the others and many other variables, but it is such an important factor that it deserves a separate point. The complexity of the tasks performed by an astronaut, as well as the conditions in which they have to carry them out, are unparalleled in other professional activities.. This, of course, is a source of intense stress.

Some missions on stations such as Skylab or MIR, or on the ISS itself, have lasted several months. Such a long time, working at the highest level and in space conditions, is a stress that is not bearable for everyone. That is why the selection of candidates has to be so demanding, as not all subjects are able to withstand the psychological effects experienced by astronauts.

The great challenge: Mars

But all these situations have been studied in the manned missions carried out so far, the farthest being those of the Apollo program, which reached the Moon (almost 400,000 km) and the longest in time that of the cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov (437 days) and that of the American astronaut Christina Koch (328 days). But these figures pale in comparison with the great challenge that all space programs have on the horizon: the trip to Mars..

Apart from the immense technological challenge of this space odyssey, we cannot ignore the psychological implications for a human being of traveling in a capsule of quite small dimensions for between 6 and 9 months, counting only the outward journey, carrying out the missions on the surface of the red planet during the stipulated time, and returning in one piece to Earth during the same period of time.

In order to anticipate the psychological effects that the astronauts would experience on this hypothetical mission, experts are studying analogous situations in which the astronauts would have to return to Earth in one piece for a similar period of time, experts are studying analogous situations of isolation, such as those that occur on submarines, or in specially prepared arctic facilities, such as the facilities in the Arctic, such as Neumayer III. NASA even has a simulator in Houston, called Hera, where studies are also being carried out to test these effects.

Evidently all these elements help to anticipate many of the situations that can arise in a long duration space trip and the psychological effects derived, but until the big moment arrives we will not get to know the real repercussions that interplanetary travel can have on the mind of the human being.

Bibliographical references:

• Alonso, M.M. (2013). Aeronautical Psychology and its Contribution to Aerospace Safety. Argentine Journal of Psychology.
• Cox, B.D., Schmidt, L.L., Slack, K.J., Foster, T.C.. (2013). Assessment and selection of military aviators and astronauts. Aeromedical psychology. Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
• Sipes, W., Fiedler, E. (2007). Current psychological support for US astronauts on the international space station. NASA Technical Reports Server.
• Suedfeld, P. (2005). Invulnerability, coping, salutogenesis, integration: four phases of space psychology. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine.