Ethological Approach of the Human Factors from Space Missions to Space Operations

摘要

Benefits of using the ethological approach in space field was first demonstrated on short duration human missions then developed in the perspective of long-term missions for manned Mars exploration and Moon village. As transfer of knowledge, new goals of application are to propose complementary tools and an efficient method that assesses positive actions of operators coping with routine works and unexpected events while minimizing human factors (HF) risks in interactive space operations. In this prospective study, we applied the ethological method for HF assessment within the operator/system interactions during satellites control-command operations. The question is on how the operators optimize their relationships with the system in which they interact as positive human dependability for the success of missions. The proposed method, based on the observation, description and quantification of spontaneous spatial-motor actions, is to check the relevant behavioral indicators in operational situations. We give details about the tools and examples of analyses performed inside the Network Operations Center (NOC), at the Toulouse Space Center, in France. Observational data focused on interactions, actions, positions, displacements, distances and orientations of the observed subjects in satellites post-launch situation on one side, and in routine situation on the other side. We completed the analyses during training sessions (Pleiade system tests). The preliminary results support the relevance and constraints of such an approach for next space operations. We emphasize the relationships between human behavior and human factor.