Preliminary Results of “Content” Space Experiment

Abstract

Space experiment “Content” is held to test quantitative content-analysis of crew contacts with the Mission control center (MCC) personnel as an objective method of operational remote evaluation of crew member psychophysiology, as well as in-group and intergroup (crew–MCC) interactions. The methodology of the experiment is based on the concept that communicative behavior manifests the individual coping strategies. These strategies are considered to be effective or ineffective in context of their influence on the success in person’s activities, which often depends on the quality of in-group communication. In the experiment, we studied the effect of various factors (including mission duration, occurrence of significant events and problem situations, or changes in the crew composition) on the crew oral communication features. The results lend credence to the concept of the “final breakthrough” and reveal a trend towards more frequent manifestations of the third-quarter phenomenon as mission duration extends to one year. Problem situations may increase both the number of ineffective coping strategies and the number of effective coping strategies favorable for mission accomplishment despite pressures and challenges. The observation that a change in status within the crew modifies the style, length, and frequency of contacts with MCC confirms the concept of the commander being the crew’s spokesman. Acquisition and systematization of documented crew statements, together with the identification and description of important speech phenomena, provide basis for future automation of crew–MCC content-analysis.