group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Christian Yeara Herrero, Graduate Student Frányerson R. López Ochoa, Graduate Student MacKenzie Thomas, Graduate Student Phoebe Fleshman, Graduate Student
Lead Presenter's Name
Christian Yeara Herrero
Faculty Mentor Name
Sean R. Crouse
Abstract
As plans accelerate to send humans into orbit and to other celestial bodies, whether to lunar outposts, Mars bases, or commercial space stations, it becomes increasingly important to understand how to maintain healthy, cohesive, and productive crews in confined, isolated environments. A practical way to study human adaptation to these conditions is through analog astronaut missions on Earth. Although imperfect, these facilities provide the closest Earth-based simulation of space mission conditions. Currently, over ten analog research centers are operating worldwide, including NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) and the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitats. Selecting and recruiting analog astronaut candidates with appropriate psychological and demographic profiles is crucial for mission success. This study aims to identify key psychological and demographic predictors of an individual’s willingness to participate in analog astronaut missions of three durations: 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. Independent variables include age, gender, relationship status, dependents, education, employment, income, political orientation, race, familiarity with space topics, emotional disposition, perceived risk, motivational orientation, perceived value, time availability, prior confinement experience, and perceived likelihood of selection. Data will be collected through an anonymous online survey, with informed consent and under IRB oversight. Analytical methods will include cross-validated R², Pearson correlations, and backward stepwise regression to identify the strongest predictors of willingness. The resulting model is expected to explain a significant portion of the variance and serve as a pre-screening tool for identifying promising analog astronaut candidates. Findings will guide recruitment and diversity strategies, improve crew compatibility, and reduce reliance on lengthy psychological assessments, ultimately leading to more efficient preparation for long-duration human space missions.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
MODELING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS OF ANALOG ASTRONAUT MISSION PARTICIPATION
As plans accelerate to send humans into orbit and to other celestial bodies, whether to lunar outposts, Mars bases, or commercial space stations, it becomes increasingly important to understand how to maintain healthy, cohesive, and productive crews in confined, isolated environments. A practical way to study human adaptation to these conditions is through analog astronaut missions on Earth. Although imperfect, these facilities provide the closest Earth-based simulation of space mission conditions. Currently, over ten analog research centers are operating worldwide, including NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) and the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitats. Selecting and recruiting analog astronaut candidates with appropriate psychological and demographic profiles is crucial for mission success. This study aims to identify key psychological and demographic predictors of an individual’s willingness to participate in analog astronaut missions of three durations: 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. Independent variables include age, gender, relationship status, dependents, education, employment, income, political orientation, race, familiarity with space topics, emotional disposition, perceived risk, motivational orientation, perceived value, time availability, prior confinement experience, and perceived likelihood of selection. Data will be collected through an anonymous online survey, with informed consent and under IRB oversight. Analytical methods will include cross-validated R², Pearson correlations, and backward stepwise regression to identify the strongest predictors of willingness. The resulting model is expected to explain a significant portion of the variance and serve as a pre-screening tool for identifying promising analog astronaut candidates. Findings will guide recruitment and diversity strategies, improve crew compatibility, and reduce reliance on lengthy psychological assessments, ultimately leading to more efficient preparation for long-duration human space missions.