Planning for long-duration space exploration: Interviews with NASA subject matter experts

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 129; pp. 477 - 487
• Main Authors: McIntosh, Tristan, Mulhearn, Tyler, Gibson, Carter, Mumford, Michael D., Yammarino, Francis J., Connelly, Shane, Day, Eric A., Vessey, William B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aeronautics; Astronauts; Autonomy; Backup plans; Experts; Forecasting; Interviews; Leadership; Long duration space flight; NASA; Organizations; Perception; Planning; Product innovation; Qualitative analysis; Scanning; Space exploration; Space missions; Qualitative analysis; Scanning; Planning; Backup plans; NASA; Forecasting
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.08.029

Planning is critical to organizations, especially for those involved in pursuing technologic, scientific, and innovative ventures. Examination of planning processes is particularly important in high-stake and high-risk environments. In the present study, to highlight the significance of planning in the context of long-duration space missions, 11 current and former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) personnel were interviewed to gain a better understanding of astronaut and Mission Control leadership in preparing for and carrying out space missions. Interviewees focused their responses on perceptions of leadership and thoughts on how long-duration spaceflight leadership should be different from current and short-term spaceflight. Notes from these interviews were content coded and qualitatively analyzed. We found that cognitive planning skills and case-based reasoning were among the variables that were most highly rated for being critical to the success of long-duration space missions. Moreover, qualitative analyses revealed new considerations for long-duration space missions, such as granting greater autonomy to crewmembers and the need for more near-term forecasting. The implications of these findings for understanding the planning processes and necessary characteristics of individuals tasked with planning are discussed.