CIRCA DIA
Humane schedule management for reducing
human error in long-term space missions
Habitat on the Moon
Living for up to a year on the Moon without seeing the outside world or your loved ones, constantly surrounded by colleagues who are also the only people in the radius of 400 000km, is truly daunting. But humans are hard-wired for curiosity and building a permanent habitat on the Moon is a necessary stepping stone in exploring Space.
The European Space Agency ESA_Lab@ called into action a demonstrator project Igluna co-ordinated by the Swiss Space Centre.
The aim of this demonstrator is to design and build conceptual solutions for long-duration space missions on the Moon.
Project length
3.5 months
Collaborators
Erko Pettai
Grete Pärtel
Liis Saare
Mentors
prof. Martin Pärn
Janno Nõu
Focus point
The Moon is an incredibly inhospitable environment. Designing for a habitat set in these conditions renders various challenges — environmental, physical, and mental.
Our team of four students decided to concentrate on the psychological effects of space missions. While the technical life support systems and scientific equipment are the main focus in planning and prepping the missions, the mental well-being of the astronauts starts to have a greater impact on the success of these missions the longer they last.
Science and technology can rise to the challenges of space, but human bodies are not meant for the harsh conditions it presents and the human mind is prone to make mistakes. People working to make space exploration possible have gone as far as to call human error risk one of the top two reasons for possible mission failure.
Designing for a new frontier
So far there have not been long-duration lunar missions, the first is planned as soon as 2030.
In preparation of long duration missions, a lot of research has been conducted and many simulations have been carried out with the goal of discovering the effects of such conditions. Isolation simulations have given a lot of insight into the psychological effects that astronauts may experience. Exploring research papers, but also podcasts such as the Habitat (a documentary podcast following six people in the isolation simulation HI-SEAS during their year-long isolation mission) formed a large part of developing an understanding of the challenges astronauts have to face.
We also followed the experiences of the crew on the International Space Station. Although the conditions on board of the ISS are vastly different from the conditions on the Moon, it gives insight into the challenges these missions may face.
Similar isolation situations can also be found on Earth. The South Pole research station needs to operate in isolation and be self-sustainable for the whole duration of the polar night while flights are cut off due to the difficult weather conditions. In many ways, these experiences from these give clear insight for designing with the lunar missions in mind.
Backing it up with science
In 2017 Nobel prize in Medicine and Psychology was awarded for discoveries about how internal clocks and biological rhythms govern human life.
“With exquisite precision, our inner clock adapts our physiology to the dramatically different phases of the day. The clock regulates critical functions such as behaviour, hormone levels, sleep, body temperature, and metabolism.”
Circadian rhythm is unique and varies from person to person. It has a few indicators that can be measured — core body temperature and melatonin levels.
Working together with a Tallinn University of Technology Department of Health Technologies doctorate student, whose PhD thesis focuses on estimating physical fatigue and indicating circadian rhythm, allowed for us to base our concept design on pioneering developments in the field of health technologies.
Circadian rhythm &
fatigue analysis
As circadian rhythm regulates our critical functions, it also defines phases of the day optimal for different activities.
Our bodies go through phases of high and low levels of mental alertness, hunger, stress, mood, heart function, and even immunity.
Body temperature fluctuates in the range of two degrees over one cycle of circadian rhythm. By analysing the change in the core body temperature together with the changes of melatonin levels we are able to estimate the phases of circadian rhythm.
By analysing heart rate and acceleration fatigue levels can be estimated.
These analyses formed the foundation for the schedule management system developed for the long-duration lunar missions.
Developing individual
circadian rhythm baseline
Before going on a mission, all astronauts go through a two-year training period. During this time we could analyse their circadian rhythm baseline to locate the peak and low moments of physical and mental activity through measuring their core body temperature and melatonin levels.
Working together with health and routine coaches the astronauts can, in addition, develop a preferred activity baseline schedule, that will also consider their own preferences and habits.
Putting it to use
on the mission
On the missions, astronauts would have wristwatches that would non-invasively monitor their activity, heart rate, and body temperature.
This allows us to be up to date with their circadian rhythms and lets them manage their schedule according to their personal natural body clock and their own preferences and habits.
Schedule management
This is what they will see on the screen of their work devices.
The estimated circadian rhythm will be processed into levels of mental and physical activity. The same data processing that does this will also receive the tasks sent in by mission control.
Knowing the rhythms of the whole crew, fixed events will be created on the schedules for when it’s best for the whole crew to be present for the activity and separate tasks will be divided into categories that the astronaut can then manage and fit on their personal schedule as they please. Of course, the circadian rhythm guides the process to heighten the efficiency of the day.
Assisting on the go
The wristwatch that measures their vital signs will give easy access to the astronaut’s schedule and allow to make changes on the go.
The circadian levels are also viewable here. As we cannot predict everything far into the future, we analyse their heart rate and acceleration to determine their fatigue levels.
Preventing mistakes
Astronauts can now be notified in advance in case their fatigue levels might interfere with their alertness and ability to perform high-risk tasks like moonwalk.
If we notify them — that task you just did, got you tired more than we predicted and fatigue might now have an effect on the difficult task ahead — we, first of all, lessen the possibility of costly mistakes, but also enable something to be done for the astronaut to recover.
How about a nap?
Perhaps we move some tasks around?
This is how we operate here on Earth every day. We move things around according to how we feel. And ideally, make schedules listening to what our body and mind tell us.
The benefits
It’s in mission control’s interest to maximise the efficiency of the missions. When harmonious schedule management enhances the performance of the astronauts and lowers risks of human error while giving the crew more control of their own day - everybody wins!
Fatigue is responsible for up to a quarter of serious or fatal accidents on the road when driving, of course, we should take that into account when planning the schedules of our astronauts - the stakes up in space are so much higher.
Possible implementations on Earth
Besides space missions, the analysis of circadian rhythm and fatigue levels can also provide value here on Earth. Following the natural rhythm of the body would allow for more harmonious schedule management and rise in productivity by aligning the activities in our day to yield the best results for us.
Another future implementation involves jet lag prevention — something travellers are struggling with. Evolving circadian rhythm analysis further and fully developing the personal circadian baseline analysis will allow for preventative adjustments in daily rhythms.
Preventative recognition of fatigue levels will be beneficial for various high-risk jobs such as surgeons, pilots, construction workers, firefighters, policemen, drivers.
Presenting the design
The project was run in tight co-ordinance with the Swiss Space Centre. I attended the kick-off event in September in Zurich, Switzerland. In November the Preliminary Design Review was held here, in Tallinn, with Swiss Space Centre representatives present. In January, I presented the project in the Critical Design Review held in Cern, Switzerland.
In June, the project Circa Dia will be presented as part of an exhibition in Zermatt, Switzerland during a three-week field campaign demonstrator for the Igluna project.
Work on the design concept of Circa Dia concluded in January with a presentation during the EKA Design Showcase event.
