Research challenges traditional assumptions on human factors in space exploration
Space exploration has sparked new scientific and technological knowledge of inherent value to humankind and has led to better understanding of the Universe. However, it is easy to overlook the pivotal role played by human factors – the interplay of human physiology, psychology, and performance – in ensuring the success and safety of astronauts.
University of Liverpool’s research challenges traditional assumptions on human factors in space exploration. As part of Faculti’s video series, Dr Phillip Brooker, Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, explores the social studies of space flight, with focus on the human factors involved.
Dr Brooker’s research challenges the prevailing belief that human performance in spaceflights can be adequately understand and predicted solely through anthropometric and biomechanical metrics. Existing methods tend to reduce human performance to quantifiable metrics; however, Dr Brooker asserts that this approach fails to capture the full spectrum of human capabilities and limitation in the space environment.
Watch the video on Faculti
Watch the video on the Faculti website
Drawing on his expertise, Dr Brooker advocates for a broader framing of the remit of human factors - one that incorporates the nuance and richness that qualitative research provides, alongside the scientistic forms of understanding that space agencies currently rely on.
Speaking of the research, Dr Phillip Brooker, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, shared:
“An expanded way of framing human factors in human space flight missions is, I think, going to be a crucial part of ensuring the safety and success of future missions. What we learn from Skylab is that paying closer attention to the lived work of astronautics qualitatively is vital even for relatively short-duration missions. For the kinds of mission that space agencies are looking ahead to - returning to the moon with a view on building and occupying small settlements, and even proposing to send humans to Mars - this is only going to become more important.”
Dr Brooker has published several chapters and papers which apply his ethnomethodological research background to various aspects of human spaceflight activities and is currently writing a book for the Manchester University Press “Living and Working in Space: An Ethnomethodological Study of Skylab” which is set to be published in 2025.