{"id":73634,"date":"2019-05-02T20:19:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T00:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-444543"},"modified":"2023-09-25T15:43:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T19:43:39","slug":"clowning-around-lightens-the-load-nasa-studies-team-dynamics-in-antarctica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/clowning-around-lightens-the-load-nasa-studies-team-dynamics-in-antarctica\/","title":{"rendered":"Clowning Around Lightens the Load: NASA Studies Team Dynamics in Antarctica"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"gsfc_20171208_archive\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=1024,680 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=1536,1020 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=600,398 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=900,598 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?resize=1200,797 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Using humor in their work, NASA\u2019s BARREL team in Antarctica perform what they call the \u201cLow Wind Dance.\u201d This team uses balloons to help understand space weather and need low wind to release their balloons. Teams such as this one, already working in Antarctica, are invited to participate in HRP\u2019s CREWS and SCALE study to give researchers more information about team dynamics in an isolated environment.<br><strong><em>Credits: NASA\/Goddard\/Brett Anderson<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Often called \u201cWhite Mars\u201d because of its desolation and extreme environment, teams working in Antarctica are ripe for psychological studies to help guide future astronauts on deep space missions to destinations such as Mars. On a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> journey to Mars<\/a>,  crews will travel in a small vessel for months with little to see along the way. Similarly, wintering in Antarctica means no sun and no way to leave the continent for months. Two studies currently underway are investigating team dynamics in the isolated environment of such a remote outpost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=319203\">Human Research Program<\/a> works to understand the behavioral health implications of long-duration space missions, and some of that research takes place in <em>analogs<\/em>. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/analog-missions\/\"><em>analog<\/em> <\/a>is a research environment used by scientists to study the physical and mental effects of being in space by partially mimicking those conditions here on Earth.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the things we know from analogs is that the social relations people form is an important predictor to how well they can complete tasks together,\u201d said Leslie DeChurch, Ph.D., an analog researcher and professor of communications and psychology at Northwestern University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DeChurch\u2019s study, titled <em>Shared Cognitive Architectures for Long-term Exploration <\/em>(SCALE), is exploring how social relations and team cognition are affected by isolation and confinement. This research may help enable teams to maintain and improve recall of shared knowledge and have a better understanding of the consequences of poor team performance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1268\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"ed04-0056-114large\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=1024,676 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=1536,1014 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=400,264 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=900,594 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ed04-0056-114large.jpg?resize=1200,793 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica as viewed from NASA\u2019s DC-8 aircraft. Antarctica is sometime called \u201cWhite Mars\u201d because of its desolation and extreme environment where temperatures rarely get over zero-degrees Fahrenheit and the sun disappears for four months of every year. This is the perfect environment for NASA to study human interactions and team dynamics.<br><strong><em>Credits: NASA\/Armstrong<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>High performing teams have certain attributes, composition, and dynamics. Astronauts returning from the International Space Station, for instance, have said humor is critical for diffusing tense situations in space. It is no different when wintering-over in Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Humor functions to bridge relations between major social categories and helps facilitate high rates of team interactions that aid in calming conflicts. \u201cYou need a clown on the team,\u201d said Noshir Contractor, Ph.D., professor of behavioral sciences also from Northwestern University. This insight is based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/14983837\" rel=\"noopener\">prior research<\/a> that demonstrated the importance of the \u201cclown role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contractor\u2019s study is a companion to SCALE titled <em>Crew Recommender for Effective Work in Space <\/em>(CREWS). This study uses the research data for developing a computer model that can help select the best crew team. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a perception that we\u2019re going to tell them who to send on a mission. But if they have a collection of people, it will work like a weather forecast model,\u201d Contractor said. \u201cIt\u2019s a predictive model that says if you choose this particular crew, here is what you are likely to see in terms of team dynamics. And, if problems arise, here is how to intervene to ease those problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since they cannot go to Antarctica to observe the participants in person, DeChurch and Contractor utilize a series of weekly surveys throughout the test subjects\u2019 stay in Antarctica. A starting profile is established then they are asked questions about their perceptions of the relationships within the team they work with as they form, change, and grow throughout the timeframe. At the end, Contractor and DeChurch will conduct Skype exit interviews with the participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SCALE and CREWS studies have been a part of the Human Exploration Research Analog (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/hera\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/hera\/\">HERA<\/a>) research for the past three years. The research is being expanded to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/nek-and-sirius\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/nek-and-sirius\/\">SIRIUS-18\/19<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/antarctic-stations\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/antarctic-stations\/\">Antarctica<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSIRIUS is a multicultural six-person team and the study lasts three times longer than the HERA research missions,\u201d Contractor said. Antarctica is even a step further. DeChurch added, \u201cThe advantage of Antarctica is that it is much longer than either of the other two analogs. It is more real in a sense: there is real work and danger; you\u2019re not going to be rescued quickly; and sensory deprivation is experienced. Everything outside is white, and boring, and you are always with the same people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/analog-missions\/\" data-type=\"URL\">Analogs<\/a> help provide NASA with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human exploration operations. Research in analogs is one more piece of the puzzle in determining how the human body and mind, which were built for Earth, will one day be able to live and thrive off our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><code>______<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Research Program<\/a>, or HRP, pursues the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, and the International Space Station, HRP scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives HRP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-human-research-program-three-steps-to-mars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quest<\/a> to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as space travel expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/lakita-lowe-leading-space-commercialization-innovations-and-fostering-stem-engagement\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lakita-issrdc-2022.jpg?resize=400,267 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Lakita Lowe: Leading Space Commercialization Innovations and Fostering STEM Engagement\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/nasas-repository-supports-research-of-commercial-astronaut-health\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/51472315354-c49f4aa62a-k.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Repository Supports Research of Commercial Astronaut Health\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">NASA\u2019s Open Science Data Repository provides valuable information to researchers studying the impact of space...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/people-of-johnson\/from-psychology-to-space-alexandra-whitmires-journey-and-impact-in-nasas-human-research-program\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg 4498w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=2048,1638 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jsc2018e085216.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">From Psychology to Space: Alexandra Whitmire\u2019s Journey and Impact in NASA’s Human Research Program<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/living-in-space\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Living in Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"370\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?w=370\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png 370w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=180,300 180w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=239,400 239w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/meir-2.png?resize=359,600 359w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Artemis<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg 5504w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?resize=1333,2000 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hrp\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Human Research Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"404\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?w=404\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png 404w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?resize=229,300 229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jasmin2.png?resize=305,400 305w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Station Research and Technology<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=682,1024 682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Often called \u201cWhite Mars\u201d because of its desolation and extreme environment, teams working in Antarctica are ripe for psychological studies to help guide future astronauts on deep space missions to destinations such as Mars. On a journey to Mars, crews will travel in a small vessel for months with little to see along the way. [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":78249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2656,11946,3811],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[11528],"coauthors":[12649,12658],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Clowning Around Lightens the Load: NASA Studies Team Dynamics in Antarctica","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/clowning-around-lightens-the-load-nasa-studies-team-dynamics-in-antarctica\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/clowning-around-lightens-the-load-nasa-studies-team-dynamics-in-antarctica\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg"},"articleSection":"Humans in Space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Monica Edwards"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Laurie Abadie"}],"creator":["Monica Edwards","Laurie Abadie"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Science Mission Directorate","Space Life & Physical Sciences Research & Applications Division","Human Research Program","Humans in Space","Antarctic Stations"],"dateCreated":"2019-05-03T00:19:00Z","datePublished":"2019-05-03T00:19:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-25T19:43:39Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Clowning Around Lightens the Load: NASA Studies Team Dynamics in Antarctica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/clowning-around-lightens-the-load-nasa-studies-team-dynamics-in-antarctica\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-05-03T00:19:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Humans in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Science Mission Directorate,Space Life & Physical Sciences Research & Applications Division,Human Research Program,Humans in Space,Antarctic Stations\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Monica Edwards\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Laurie Abadie\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":78249,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large.jpg","title":"gsfc_20171208_archive_e001119large","alt":"gsfc_20171208_archive","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73634"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73634"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":547640,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73634\/revisions\/547640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73634"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=73634"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=73634"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=73634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}