India’s Manned Spaceflight: Incisive Perspectives on the Vigilance of the Crew During the Mission

Abstract

During staffed space flight missions, the astronauts’ circadian timing system and sleep are altered not only due to the microgravity environment but also due to the intense environmental stimulus. Loss of sleep during the preflight, flight, and postflight periods are commonly reported by the space crew. Long periods of enforced wakefulness and poor quality of sleep or insomnia result in fatigue, impaired cognition, and decreased alertness leading to psychological dysfunctions, neurobehavioral performance decrement among astronauts. These may ultimately result in loss of critical thinking and decision-making capabilities, and cause an increased risk of injuries and accidents. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established a Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) in 2019 for undertaking a manned space flight. The success of this interplanetary mission would depend on dedicated and collaboratory efforts of experts from multiple disciplines, including psychology, biology, and medical sciences, apart from experienced engineers and technicians. It is also pertinent to ask whether HSFC of ISRO will have inputs from experts in biological science and whether India will undertake its first manned orbital space flight without conducting a trial run with a trained animal. It is pivotal that ISRO establishes a dedicated Advanced Concepts Team that has expertise in sleep, biological rhythms, and fatigue countermeasures, to support its missions.