HUMAN FACTORS IN THE SPACE STATION DESIGN PROCESS

摘要

Until now, human factors in the discipline that is concerned with the interactions between humans and other elements ofa system have not been taken into account appropriately, which is why the level of performance on space stations, fromthe Mir to the current International Space Station, is reportedly low.As underlined by the European Cooperation for Space Standardization, the integration of sound human factors into allproject phases related to human space mission, starting from the very beginning, has become a primary necessity, inparticular considering the approaching scenario of long duration/range missions. As a means for dealing with this need,this work proposes a new conceptual model, which focuses on incorporating human factors principles right from thepreliminary design phase into all aspects of long-duration/range human mission projects in order to improvehabitability. The new conceptual model developed during five years of doctoral research at TU-Berlin (Schlacht, 2012)~I,referred to herein as the Integrated Design Process (IDP), incorporates three key design principles: habitability factors, auser-centered approach, and a holistic methodology. The conceptual model was tested against existing models in fourseparate studies, specifically: a study on Moon Base design at the SSDW 2009; a study to investigate habitability on theMars Desert Research Station; a study to design space equipment for system operations at the TU-Berlin; and a study todesign a closed-loop habitat for long duration missions with the DLR. The results suggest that employing such a modelduring the design phase of a space mission will improve habitability and usability of the item under development, thusimproving user performance, safety, and ultimately mission success. The implications of such a model extend beyondapplication in space and include other environments where individuals are expected to live and work in confined areasfor extended periods of time, such as in research laboratories in Antarctica. It can also be applied in megacities as wellas in retirement homes.