NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Executive Summary

Behavioral health decrements can lead to performance-related effects that compromise crew ability to function, especially under abnormal or emergency conditions.

While spaceflight mishaps related to behavioral health problems have been quite low, the actual incidence may be underestimated due to the reluctance of astronauts to report them.

Some reported spaceflight incidents indicate that sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, fatigue, and work overload, as experienced by ground and flight crews, may lead to performance errors,

which could potentially compromise mission objectives.

Managing behavioral health conditions during space missions has critical importance for the mental efficiency and safety of the crew and, ultimately for the success of the mission.

Overview

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Contributing factors:• Schedule shifting • Environmental factors • Work overload • Stress from operational

requirements • Confined, limited volume

Gemini: Sleep-work schedules were responsible for considerable sleep disruption, fatigue and circadian misalignment. One member of a two-crew operation needed to be awake at all times.

• Gemini 11: EVA 1 was terminated early due to astronaut fatigue.

Example

Potential impact:• Fatigue• Performance errors• Team decrements• Loss of mission (LOM)• Loss of crew (LOC)

Relevant standards: 4.2.5 Fitness-for-Duty Behavioral Health and Cognition Standard, V2 3006 Human-Centered Task Analysis, V2 5004 Cognitive Capabilities, V2 5007 Nominal Cognitive workload, V2 5008 Off Nominal Cognitive Workload.

Relevant Technical Brief: Sleep Accommodations Technical Brief.

Risks of performance errors due to fatigue resulting from sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, extended wakefulness and work overload

Hazards :• Isolation• Hostile/closed

environment• Distance from earth• Radiation• Altered gravity (micro-

gravity and partial)

Background

Sleep deprivation and FatigueSleep deprivation is a serious problem in spaceflight and can lead to disastrous situations. Fatigue caused by sleep deprivation can affect performance, increase irritability, diminish concentration, and decrease reaction time. Sleep-deprived subjects “perform considerably worse on motor tasks, cognitive tasks, and measures of mood than non-sleep-deprived subjects,”. Efforts are needed to improve sleep hygiene.

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Potential impact:• Stress levels• Team Performance• Decision making and

reaction time• Cognitive function• Affected mood, morale

and well-being

Examples

Soyuz T10-Salyut 7 (1984): Crew reported possible hallucinations to mission control.

Soyuz T14-Salyut 7 (1985): Depression may have contributed to evacuation and early termination of mission.

Mir: U.S. astronauts that flew on MIR commented that ''Isolation is a tough thing,'' especially without any private space.

STS: A Payload specialist became despondent when their experiment failed. The crew reported concerns about the potential for dangerous behavior including opening a hatch. As a result, the STS hatches were fitted with locks.

Skylab 4: The astronauts conducted a daylong “sit-down strike.” The crew was described as hostile, irritable, and down-right grumpy.

Risk of adverse cognitive or behavioral conditions and psychiatric disorders

Relevant standards: 4.2.5 Fitness-for-Duty Behavioral Health and Cognition Standard, 4.4.3.5.3 Behavioral Health and Performance, 4.4.4.4 Psychological Function, 4.4.2.2 Psychological Mission Training, V2 5004 Cognitive Capabilities.

Depression and AnxietyAdverse cognitive and behavioral conditions are a risk for spaceflight operations, especially those of long duration and without real-time communication. Astronauts must cope with a stressful and dangerous environment in space, away from family and friends.

Contributing Factors:• Stress• Workload• Team Functioning• Family and Social Separation• Sleep Deficiency• Deficient Sensory Stimulation

Hazards:• Isolation• Hostile/closed

environment• Distance from earth• Radiation• Altered gravity (micro-

gravity and partial)

Background

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Potential impact:• Fatigue• Performance errors• Impairs decision making • Reaction time• Sleep deprivation• Loss of mission (LOM)• Loss of crew (LOC)

Examples

Skylab 3: Crewmembers reported that they quickly ran into difficulty due to work overload. The fast-paced schedule and workload of the mission had initially caused these crew members to consistently “feel” behind on tasks as well as demoralized. At the start of the 45th day of their 59-day mission, the crewmembers elected to have a sit-down, during which they refused to perform scheduled tasks.

Apollo: Some of the Apollo crews reported serious mental fatigue while they were performing lunar EVAs (Scheuring et al., 2007).

ISS: Astronauts experienced high tempo operations and high workloads• “The fatigue was evident when a couple of minor mistakes were made today on some

payload activities. The ground caught the mistake and helped me out. But it is an obvious indicator of fatigue. ”I feel that the workload is going up; these last few weeks seem to have been pretty taxing. I’m very tired”

Relevant standards: V2 3006 Human-Centered Task Analysis, V2 5004 Cognitive Capabilities, V2 5005 Time and Performance, V2 5007 Nominal Cognitive Workload.Relevant Technical Brief: Cognitive Workload Technical Brief, Human-Centered Task & Error Analysis Technical Brief.

Risk of performance errors due to fatigue resulting from sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, extended wakefulness and work overload

Work OverloadExcessive workload demands on any one task can cause the operators to exclusively focus on one problem leaving little or no spare capacity to deal with any other problems that may occur. Designers need to consider the workload of the user when designing and producing an interface or designing a task.

Hazards:• Isolation• Hostile/closed

environment• Distance from earth• Radiation• Altered gravity (micro-

gravity and partial)

Contributing factors:• Schedule shifting • Environmental factors • Work overload • Stress from operational

requirements • Sleep loss• Confined, limited volume

Background

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Contributing factors:• Work- rest schedule• Fatigue• Crew Diversity• Work overload • Mission duration• Sleep deficiency• Individual mental health

Examples

Relevant standard: 4.4.2.2 Psychological Mission Training, 4.2.5 Fitness-for-Duty Behavioral Health and Cognition, 4.4.3.5.3 Behavioral Health and Performance, V2 7084 Recreational capabilities.

Potential impact:• Decrements in Team

Performance• Cognitive dysfunction• Communication problems• Loss of mission (LOM)

Risk of performance decrements due to inadequate cooperation, coordination communication and poor psychosocial adaptation

Team coordination and collaborationNumerous factors present during space missions disrupt effective teamwork and negatively affect team performance. Team conflict is a risk factor, especially in long-duration space missions because of its potential impact on team member satisfaction, team cohesion, and performance. Teamdynamics in this case are a key factor in exacerbating or ameliorating stress encountered.

Hazards:• Isolation• Hostile/closed

environment• Distance from earth• Radiation• Altered gravity (m-gravity)

Soyuz 21: Reportedly was ended prematurely due to unspecified "interpersonal issues" with the crew.

Salyut 5: Evacuation with interpersonal conflict as a primary contributing factor.

Soyuz TM2-Mir: Evacuation with interpersonal conflict as a primary contributing factor.

Skylab 4: The crew started to spar with the ground over a litany of complaints, from the poor quality of the towels to the lack of cooperation from ground. The crew decided to express dissatisfaction with the mission parameters by organizing a daylong labor strike. They turned off their transmitters and refused to communicate with mission control.

Background

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Design Considerations to Minimize Sleep Deficiency :• Provide restraints to secure blankets and maintain positioning, with a range from knees-to-chest to

full body stature.

• Provide individual control of the sleep environment in order to ensure adequate sleep and maintain

well-being during missions.

• Environmental factors such as noise, temperature, vibration, and light can inhibit sleep and affect

well-being in space and should be taken in consideration in system design.

• Examples of sleep accommodations include clothing, bedding, ear plugs, light blockers, eye masks,

etc.

Relevant Standards :Continuous Noise Limits [V2 6078]; Crew Sleep Continuous Noise Limits [V2

6079]; Intermittent Noise Limits [V2 6080]; Annoyance Noise Limits for Crew Sleep [V2 6082]; Impulse

Noise Limit [V2 6083]; Narrow-Band Noise Limits [V2 6084]; Vibration Exposure Limits during Sleep

[V2 6092]; Sleep Accommodation [V2 7070]; Light blocking [V2 8049]; Circadian Entrainment [V2

8055]; Hearing protection [V2 9057]

Design Considerations to Minimize Anxiety & Depression:• Communication system should be provided in each private quarter.

• System that facilitates voice and text should be provided.

• Private communication with family.

• Private space with pictures of family members.

Relevant Standards: Communication System Design [V2 10083]; Communication Capability [V2

10084]; Communication Speech Levels [V2 10085]; Communication Operational Parameters [V2

10086]; Communication Environmental Parameters [V2 10087]; Communication Controls and

Procedures [V2 10088]; Communication Transmitter and Receiver Configuration [V2 10089]; Audio

Communications Quality [V2 10090]; Speech Intelligibility [V2 10091]; Private Audio Communication

[V2 10093]; Video Communication Visual Quality [V2 10094]

Reference Documents• NASA-STD-3001, Vol 2, Rev B,• NASA-STD-3001, Vol 1, Rev A• Human Integration Design Handbook, Rev 1• Significant Incidents & Close Calls in Human Spaceflight• Loss of Signal Aeromedical Lessons Learned from the STS-107 Columbia Space Shuttle

Mishaphttps://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20140008287.pdf

Application Notes

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Design Considerations to Minimize Work Overload:

• When designing a human-system interface to support a crew task, designers are to assess the operation as part of a human-in-the-loop simulation to determine the workload associated with that operation. If the cognitive workload is judged to be so high that a human has little or no spare capacity to deal with a concurrent problem, the task and supporting interfaces are to be redesigned.

• The user must be able to cognitively process all information sources and physically execute all action within the time required.

Relevant Standards: Task analysis [V2 3006]; Nominal Cognitive Workload [V2 5007]; Off-Nominal Cognitive Workload [V2 5008]; Nomenclature Consistency [V2 7061]; Illumination Levels [V2 8051]; Usability Acceptance Criteria [V2 10001]; Crew Interface Effectiveness [V2 10002]; Crew Interface Efficiency [V2 10003]; Use of Cues [V2 10015]; System Health and Status [V2 10017]; System Feedback [V2 10022]

Relevant Technical Brief: See Cognitive Workload Technical Brief

Design Considerations to Minimize Team Coordination & Collaboration:

• A common area for recreation, large enough to accommodate all crewmembers at the same

time.

• Include 'television' (or equivalent) for the crew to watch movies together (movies in the form

of data can be transmitted from Earth to also provide sensory stimulation).

• A common area for dining, large enough to accommodate all crewmembers concurrent dining.

This can be the same as the common area for recreation (converted).

• Space is required for food preparation.

• Characteristics of the crew (team size, gender makeup, job roles, and cultural backgrounds),

which are established prior to the mission should be considered when defining the habitat

requirements.

Relevant Standards: Data Sets [V2 4001]; Food Acceptability [V2 7002]; Food Preparation[V2

7008]; Dining Accommodations [V2 7012]; Physiological Countermeasures Capability [V2 7038];

Recreational Capabilities V2 7084]

“The limitations of life in space are not medical but psychological.” (Oberg & Oberg, 1986)

Application Notes

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NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

Volume 14.2.5 Fitness-for-Duty Behavioral Health and Cognition Standard

4.2.5.1 Pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight crew behavioral health and crewmember cognitive state shall be within clinically accepted values as judged by behavioral health evaluation. 4.2.5.2 End-of-mission assessment and treatment for crewmember cognitive state shall include cognitive assessment, monitoring and, as needed, transitioning the crewmember back to pre-flight values. 4.2.5.3 End-of-mission assessment and treatment for behavioral health of the crewmember shall include behavioral health and psychosocial assessment, monitoring and, as needed, transitioning the crewmember back into terrestrial work, family, and society. 4.2.5.4 The planned number of hours for completion of critical tasks and events, workday, and planned sleep period shall have established limits to assure continued crew health and safety.

4.4.2.2 Psychological Mission Training Specific pre-flight briefings and training shall be provided as appropriate to the commander (CDR), CMOs, crewmembers, key ground personnel and crew families concerning the significant psychological and social phenomena that may arise in all phases of a mission. This training may include the following:

a. Provision of recommendations and guidelines for family support activities. b. Training and support for effective individual adaptation, crew integration, and team dynamics. c. Recommendations to Flight Crew Operations Directorate (FCOD), as requested, to assist in crew assignment and composition. d. Training for medical and other GSP as indicated in support of behavior and performance issues. e. Cross-cultural training support as indicated for international missions.

4.4.3.5 Countermeasuresa. The capability to implement, monitor, and validate operational in-flight countermeasures shall be provided to mitigate undesirable physical, physiological, and psychological effects of space flight upon crewmembers. b. The requirements shall be documented in the Program MORD.

4.4.3.5.3 Behavioral Health and Performancea. Provisions shall be made to implement appropriate psychological support programs for the crew, key ground personnel, and crew families throughout the mission.b. These provisions shall be detailed in the Program MORD. These provisions may include the following:

(1) Capability to monitor and assess psychological status, including Private Psychological Conferences (PPCs) with two-way video and/or voice communication scheduled at least bi-weekly for each crewmember.(2) Private Family Conferences (PFCs) with two-way video and/or voice communication scheduled at least weekly for each crewmember.(3) Crisis intervention as needed.(4) Capabilities for crew relaxation, recreation, entertainment, news services, and social communication and behavioral adaptation.

Standards

8

NASA-STD-3001 Technical Brief Behavioral Health Mishaps

NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO)This Technical Brief is derived from NASA-STD-3001 and is for reference only.It does not supersede or waive existing Agency, Program, or Contract requirements.

Vol 1: 4.2.5, 4.4.1.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.3.5, 4.4.3.5.3, 4.4.4.4, 4.4.4.5

Vol 2: V2 3006, V2 5004, V2 5005, V2 5007, V2 5008

06/26/2020

4.4.4.4 Psychological FunctionProvisions shall be made to implement appropriate psychological support programs as needed for the crew, key ground personnel, and the crew families following space flight.These provisions may include post-flight behavioral health and cognitive assessments, monitoring, and psychological support to transition the crewmember back into work and family.

4.4.4.5 Post-flight Testing a. Post-flight medical intervention and care shall be available to all flight crewmembers of

space missions.

b. Post-flight medical intervention and care shall include the following: (1) Physical examinations. (2) Clinical laboratory tests. (3) Physical and psychosocial re-adaptation. (4) Treatment as required.(5) Scheduled days off and rest periods. (6) Circadian rhythm retraining. (7) Nutrition assessment and support.

c. The FS or designee shall monitor flight crewmember testing in situations that can be hazardous to the health of the flight crew.

Volume 2[V2 3006] Each human spaceflight program or project shall perform a task analysis to support hardware and operations design.

[V2 5004] Cognitive performance capabilities shall be accommodated in the design of all system elements that interface with the crew for all anticipated levels of crew capability and all anticipated levels of task demands.

[V2 5005] The ability to perform tasks in a timely and accurate manner shall be accommodated in the design of all system elements that interface with the crew for anticipated levels of crew capability and anticipated levels of task demands.

[V2 5007] The system shall provide crew interfaces that, when used to perform nominal crew tasks, result in Bedford Workload Scale ratings of 3 or less (or equivalent rating on another validated workload scale).

[V2 5008] The system shall provide crew interfaces that when used to perform off-nominal crew tasks result in a Bedford Workload Scale rating of 6 or less (or equivalent rating on another validated workload scale).

Standards

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