Spaceflight and Isolated, Confined and Extreme Environments

One of the most prominent research topics at UEP is behavioral research and astronaut safety regards to spaceflight and space exploration, including the uniquely extreme conditions presented by space, such as extreme isolation, confinement and behavioral stressors where human error can have catastrophic consequences. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) encounter multiple stressors that can degrade attention and performance, such as microgravity, sleep disruption, isolation, confinement, elevated radiation, and operational pressure. As humans prepare for missions to Mars, understanding how long-term spaceflight affects cognitive and physiological function is critical.

With only four people having spent more than a year in space, there is limited data on how prolonged time in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments impacts the brain and body. Our research aims to elucidate how extending mission durations beyond six months affects cognition and brain health. Such findings will help establish performance baselines for future long-duration missions, including those to Mars, and guide the development of proactive monitoring and countermeasure strategies.

We collaborate with NASA to ensure astronauts’ safety and health during missions, especially those of long duration and in preparation for extended duration explorations, including the future of Mars travel. Some of these collaborative research projects include NSCOR, HERA, Mars500 and HI-SEAS, and even the extreme 17-month Antarctic isolation. These studies provide NASA with information about human adaptation to isolation and confinement across multiple biological and psychosocial domains. These studies suggest that prolonged separation from normal social contact and environmental stimuli creates cascading effects throughout human physiological and behavioral systems.

Read more on our work with spaceflight, spaceflight analogs, and isolated, confined & extreme environments here:

   Astronaut Behavioral Health & Safety

   Spaceflight Analogs & Preparing for Mars

   Research in Antarctica

   Dr. Basner's Contributions to Space Research