Developing skills: A training method for long-duration exploration missions

Human error is defined as “an action or decision which was not intended, which involved a deviation from an accepted standard, and which led to an undesirable outcome,” and has been attributed to mishaps within and outside of NASA. Although users that have direct interaction with the hazardous process are usually deemed the cause of human error, inefficient support or guidance present in organizations can be the root of the problem (Drews, 2012). Specifically, training is a latent process that may enhance or mitigate human error, which is amplified in extreme environments involving extraterrestrial exploration. Because of the transition from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to long-duration exploration missions (LDEMs), there must be a significant shift in the training process. For LDEMs, the crew will be required to be trained more efficiently, there will be a much longer lag between training on the ground and when trained activities are performed during the mission, and the crew must be even more adaptable and resilient. As such, training must shift from knowledge-to skill-based, where skills may be transferred and generalized to multiple situations that require problem-solving. Crews in LDEMs will also deal with more stress due to the higher risk of exploration, requiring training to involve exposing trainees to the stressful environments that they may face, which will supplement the development of skills. Therefore, we recommend Stress Training (S tress Inoculation Training, Stress Exposure Training) to produce salient skill-based behaviors that will provide safety and success for future LDEMs.