The Impact of Information Technology on Human Space Exploration Missions

Abstract

Human space expeditions have, from the beginning, involved great risk and complexity. Space flights, accordingly, have utilized substantial quantities of highly skilled labor. The rapid creation and evolution of increasingly powerful information technologies promise a new human-automation systems balance of work. This balance holds the potential of greatly increased crewed and robotic space exploration capability, along with dramatically reduced costs. Since further development of sophisticated information technology systems must, from the outset, consider both the human and the machine as “components” of an integrated system, research supporting the development and optimal utilization of such systems will necessarily incorporate significant human factors components. This paper examines the impact of information technologies on lunar and planetary missions; exemplar inherent human factors aspects, such as display and control in virtual environment/teleoperated systems, are considered.

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