PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF EXTENDED MANNED SPACE FLIGHT

Abstract : As is the case with virtually all the other scientific disciplines, the adequacy of available psychological knowledge and principles will receive a severe test from the demand attendant to the development of a successful mission to Mars. A sampling of some of the revelant information available in psychology is offered and areas that will require further attention before predictions in the behavioral area for the Mars trip can be made with confidence are identified. A twofold thesis is developed. First, psychology has legitimate and important contributions to make to the Mars trip. Second, the advantages, however, are mutual; i.e., it is confidently predicted that participation in this venture will force psychologists to reexamine their traditional principles and theoretical positions and will stimulate an attack on the basic issues of human behavior with refreshing insights gained from new points of vantage.