IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Magazine - January 2022 - 42

These incidents highlight that the regulation of emotions
can impact the right stuff despite the intricate selection
process. Aggression is known to lead to poor performance
[6], although some studies have shown that negative moods
can narrow and focus attention into convergent creativity
[16]. A balance between the right stuff and the spaceflight
environment, " the right place, " is depicted in Figure 2. It is
possible that the pillar of optimizing groups of individuals
already exists in cases of civilian hardship among, for example,
families, teams, and colleagues. Crews' emotional
degeneration in the isolated and confined space environment
has been linked to mission longevity, which could suggest
that longer exposure to the conditions could increase
the chances of this pillar breaking down [14], [17] but this
statistic is very generalized, as it could be applied to many
contexts that exist in a time domain.
Second Pillar: Optimization Using
Processes and Procedures
Astronauts perform processes and procedures until they
commit them to memory through simulations, and many
have experienced similar scenarios during flights [9]. Processes
and procedures are critical pillars of optimization,
and they compensate for poor cognition in the extreme
space environment. In 1985, a space shuttle Challenger crew
survived a main engine failure by instinctively applying its
training and " mentally by the book of procedures " [9].
Handovers aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
require overlapping crews to remain for up to several weeks
so that new members can adapt physically and cognitively
to microgravity [20]. Astronaut Paolo Nespoli describes
entering space as " the human IQ being divided by three, and
the result is what you are operating at " [20]. In the event of
an emergency, the newly arrived crew will sit in a Soyuz
capsule prepared for evacuation so as not to interfere with
the experienced crew's efforts to resolve the situation [20].
An EVA is the most dangerous activity in space. Astronauts
are completely dependent on the technology in their
suits. The first person to conduct an EVA, cosmonaut Alexei
Leonov, had trouble returning to his spacecraft, due to his
suit ballooning, and he almost suffered heatstroke during his
struggle. He reduced the pressure in his suit to a dangerous
3.67 lbs/in2, which caused him to lose 12 lbs of body weight
[9]. Crew often challenge the pillar of processes and procedures
as well as ground control commands to assist one
another with gear removal and cooling down. This behavior
unites crews against " outsiders, " who in this context are represented
by mission control. Crews believe that ground control
is unable to empathize with the physical demands of
space activity [9]. Astronaut Scott Kelly expressed this
The Right Stuff
The Right Place
" Resilience in the Face of Adversity "
Upbringing and
Risk Management
Personal Experiences
High Level of Education
or Training
Superior Cognitive,
Mental, and
Personality Traits
Equanimity
Intellectually and Socially
Demanding Environment
Meeting Demanding
Mission Objectives in a
Timely Manner
Isolation and Confined
Environment
Hostile Physical Space
Environment
Figure 2. A demonstration of the right stuff in space along with traits that are valuable for managing the
environment [18], [19].
42 IEEE SYSTEMS, MAN, & CYBERNETICS MAGAZINE January 2022

IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Magazine - January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Magazine - January 2022