The Parallels Between Space Missions And COVID-19 Isolation
The Parallels Between Space Missions And COVID-19 Isolation, Jack Stuster
Keith’s note: Jack Stuster has been conducting studies for NASA on how crews live and work in space and the parallels that can be found with expeditions on Earth for decades. He has provided this commentary about confinement and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the parallels within his studies.
“Dear Keith: I have been asked recently by two German journalists for suggestions about how families and others might adapt to confinement and isolation in their homes in response to the current pandemic. As you know, I have studied conditions analogous to space stations and to expeditions to the Moon and Mars for nearly 40 years, and I studied life on the ISS during the 13-year Journals Flight Experiment. I have described the research in articles/papers, NASA technical reports, and a book, Bold Endeavors: Lessons from Polar and Space Exploration. I am offering the recommendations, below, and on the attached one-page document in hope that the information might be useful to your readers.”
Time having gone by now, those analogies are good ones. Here are some more.
(1) We really, really look forward to the EVAs now – the walks, gardening, any little project outside
(2) All of a sudden we plan meals like JSC would for ISS crew; waste not, want not, diversify meals
(3) We are so happy when the cargo ship finally launches (food delivery is a new thing for us)
(4) We approach the cargo with care, like the ISS crew going into the cargo spacecraft with masks, etc.
(5) Especially, we so look forward to seeing people back on Earth, err…family, friends, by video, or calls, even more so and more frequently than when we were actually back on Earth (in normal times)