Table Of ContentADVANCES IN
SPACE BIOLOGY
AND MEDICINE
EUROPEAN ISOLATION
AND CONFINEMENT STUDY
Editor: SJOERD L. BONTING
SET1 Institute
NASA-Ames Research Center
~
VOLUME 3 1993
@
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LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Asbjmn Aakvaag Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
A. M. Allevard Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environnement
Facult6 de M6decine
Universite Claude Bernard
Lyon, France
Tone Bergan Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Ch. A. Bizollon Laboratoire de Radioanalyse et Radiopharmacie
HBpital Neurocardiologique
Lyon, France
Alexander A. BorbCly Institute of Pharmacology
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
R. Cartier Laboratoire de Biochimie
H6pital Neurocardiologique
Lyon, France
B. Claustrat Laboratoire de Radioanalyse et Radiopharmacie
HBpital Neurocardiologique
Lyon, France
/. Collet Long-Term Program Office
European Space Agency
Paris, France
1. M. Cottet-Emard Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environnement
Faculte de M6decine
Universite Claude Bernard
Lyon, France
ix
List of Contributors
X
Marie-Monique Faurat MEDES
Hotel Dieu
Toulouse, France
1. 0. Fortrat Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environnement
FacultC de Medecine
Universite Claude Bernard
Lyon, France
G. Gauquelin Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environment
Facult6 de Medecine
UniversitC Claude Bernard
Lyon, France
C. Gharib Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environnement
Facult6 de M6decine
Universit6 Claude Bernard
Lyon France
A. Guell MEDES
Hotel Dieu
Toulouse, France
H. C. Gunga Department of Physiology
Free University
Berlin, Germany
Vadim 1. Gushin Institute for Biomedical Problems
Moscow, Russia
Dag Hammerborg Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
G. R. /. Hockey Department of Psychology
University of Hull
Hull, England
Robert Hockey Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Albert W. Holland Behavior and Performance Laboratory
Space Biomedical Research Institute
NASA Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas
A. Hope Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS xi
Yuri R. lvanovsky Institute for Biomedical Problems
Moscow, Russia
Sergey F. Kholin Institute for Biomedical Problems
Moscow, Russia
K. Kirsch Department of Physiology
Free University
Berlin, Germany
Anne Lindrup Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
A. Maillet Laboratoire de Physiologie de I’Environnement
FacultC de Medecine
UniversitC Claude Bernard
Lyon France
M. Novara European Space Technology Center
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Anne Pavy-le Tram MEDES
Hotel Dieu
Toulouse, France
Andrea Peru Institute of Human Physiology
University of Parma
Parma, Italy
L. Peyrin CNRS, SDI
Lyon, France
Giacomo Rizzolatti Institute of Human Physiology
Unversity of Parma
Parma, Italy
L. Rocker Department of Physiology
Free University
Berlin, Germany
Gro Sandal Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Laurence Schaffar Association Francaise de Lutte
contre la Mucoviscidose
Paris, France
xii 1i st of Contributors
Didier A. Schmitt Laboratoire d’lmmunologie
Facult6 de M6decine
Universite Paul Sabatier
Toulouse, France
Alf Schmhardt Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Harald Sundland Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Carole Tafforin Laboratoire de Neur&thologie
Centre de Recherche en
Biologie du Cornporternent
Universit6 Paul Sabatier
Toulouse, France
Einar Thorsen Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Irene Tobler Institute of Pharmacology
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Holger Ursin Institute of Biological and Medical Psychology
University of Bergen
Bergen, Norway
Ragnar J. Vanes Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
Pascale Vasseur MEDES
Hotel Dieu
Toulouse, France
Marit Warncke Norwegian Underwater Technology Center
Bergen, Norway
M. Wiethoff Department of Psychology
University of Hull
Hull, England
INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME 3
This third volume in the series, Advances in Space Biology and Medicine, is a
special volume dedicated entirely to the results of the first European study of the
effects of long-term confinement and isolation. The project was sponsored by the
European Space Agency's Long-Term Program Office, Directorate of Space
Station and Microgravity, in preparation for its long-term manned space missions,
the first of which will be its participation in Space Starion Freedom through the
Columbus program.
The project was called the Isolation Study for European Manned Space Infra-
structures, abbreviated ISEMSI. It was executed in the hyperbaric chamber facility
of the Norwegian Underwater Technology Center (NUTEC),B ergen. Norway in
September/October 1990. Six carefully selected men, called the EMSInauts, were
confined in the chamber for a period of 28 days. The isolation period was preceded
by a training period of two weeks, the pre-isolation period, during which baseline
data on the subjects were obtained. It was followed by a recovery period, the
post-isolation period, during which further tests were performed outside the
chamber.
The primary aim of ISEMSI was to obtain information on the psychological and
physiological effects of long-term isolation and confinement of a small crew group
under conditions similar to those that may be expected to exist for a space station
crew. The simulation was designed to be as realistic as possible, except for the
absence of weightlessness. This implied that the EMSlnauts were given a consid-
erable workload of tasks to be performed each day of the experimental period. The
workload consisted of questionnaires and tests of a psychological and physiological
xiii
xiv Introduction to Volume 3
nature, of housekeeping duties, and of additional space-related experiments. The
nature and the results of their activities are described in thirteen chapters of this
volume. In addition there is an introductory chapter by the head of the Long-Term
Program Office, ESA, and chapters about Russian and American isolation studies
of a similar nature.
Together this material should offer the reader a rather comprehensive view of
the psychophysiological aspects of the confinement and isolation inherent in
long-term space missions; missions which may be expected to become common-
place in decades ahead. The list of contents indicates the wide range of topics
studied: group functioning and communication; spatial behavior; workload and
stress; mental performance; cognitive fatigue; attention; sleep quality; and physi-
ological aspects, such as water and salt turnover, cardiac function, hormones and
electrolytes, orthostatic function, and immune function. The additional experi-
ments cover important topics such as telemedical treatment, telescience, and
microbial and chemical contamination monitoring.
The results of this study and further studies of this nature should not only benefit
future astronauts and help those who are organizing long-term manned space
missions, but should also be useful to investigators who are planning crew-operated
experiments to be carried out during such missions. Thus, the editor hopes that this
special volume, while of a different nature than the regular volumes in this series,
constitutes another useful contribution to bringing the field of space biology and
medicine to a wider scientific audience, as is the intention of the series.
Sjoerd L. Bonting
Editor
Chapter 1
THE FIRST EUROPEAN SIMULATION
OF A LONG-DURATION MANNED
SPACE MISSION
J. Collet
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
11. ScopeofISEMSl.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
111. Scenario of ISEMSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
IV. Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
V. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. INTRODUCTION
During the period 1990 to 1992, the Long-Term Program Office (LTPO) of the
European Space Agency’s (ESA) Directorate of Space Station and Microgravity
has sponsored scientific studies conducted in “space-analogous’’ environments
such as Antarctica and by deep-sea diving. In 1989, a group of six men, of different
nationalities, was monitored during a ’7-month crossing of the Antarctic on skis and
sledges. In the same year, an experimental deep-sea saturation dive (HYDREMSI),
Advances in Space Biology and Medicine
Volume 3, pages 1-4
Copyright 8 1993 by JAI Press Inc
AU rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
ISBN: 1-55938-410-7
1
2 J. COLLET
simulated in a hyperbaric chamber complex in Marseille, was closely monitored
by the LTPO. In both cases, ESA added to the original protocols some pilot
experiments in the fields of psychology, physiology, contamination,a nd teleopera-
tions.
The interest for these activities stems from the need to develop an independent
European knowledge of human factors in support of the long-duration manned
space missions expected to take place after the turn of the century. Such knowledge
cannot be gathered by theoretical means, but must come from field experience.
Simulation in analogous environments is regarded as the best means of acquiring
that experience without taking unnecessary risks.
Simulated (“dry”) dives in hyperbaric chambers yield many interesting scientific
results. However, their applicability to manned spaceflight is somewhat controver-
sial, due to heavily biasing collateral effects such as the neurophysiological effects
of high barometric pressure in a deep-dive simulation, known as high-pressure
nervous syndrome (HPNS).
Consequently, the scientist members of the Agency’s Space Psychology Advi-
sory Group (SPAG) recommended to the LTPO in 1989 that experimental research
be undertaken specifically on the problems of a psychological nature that could be
encountered by space crews due to the abnormal living conditions of long-term
isolation and confinement, avoiding all biasing effects wherever possible. Based
on the experience acquired with the HYDREMSI pilot study, an experiment in the
hyperbaric chambers of the Norwegian Underwater Technology Center (NUTEC)
Bergen was planned.
II. SCOPE OF ISEMSI
The study, called ISEMSI (Isolation Study for European Manned Space Infrastruc-
tures), was based on an isolation period of 4 weeks for a crew of six males (plus
two reserves), ideally with a professional background similar to that of astronauts
(scientists/engineers), who would cany out meaningful operational and research
tasks during their stay. It was not meant to mimic closely an actual manned space
mission in such aspects as crew selection or timeline management.
ISEMSI was basically a science-oriented simulation with the following limited
set of scientific research objectives: (1) to collect valuable information on the
neuropsychological and physiological aspects of long-duration isolation and con-
finement; and (2) to gather and organize a community of researchers oriented
towards specific space-related psychological issues.
111. SCENARIO OF ISEMSI
The scenario selected was one of practically total isolation for a period of 28 days.
More than 30 experiments were performed. In the field of psychology, the main
