Human Behavioural Health and Performance Support for Astronauts

The Canadian Space agency (CSA) Operational Space Medicine (OSM) Program is mandated to ensure the overall health and safety of the Canadian Astronauts. To fulfill this mandate the OSM Program is required, together with the other international partners, to address and deal with all the medical issues and requirements pertaining to the space missions. This includes development and implementation of common standards and practices in the areas of selection, training, monitoring and support. Canada is currently a Partner in two human space programs: the International Space Station (ISS) Program and the Artemis (Lunar Gateway) Program. Like all Partner agencies of these programs, the CSA is accountable for medical care and support for their own astronauts under the ISS Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and Gateway Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).

Human Behavioural Health and Performance (HBP) support for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts and their families is an essential component of the OSM Support. The CSA Operational Space Medicine Program is also mandated to ensure that CSA fulfills Canada’s obligations under the ISS IGA and Gateway MOUs by actively participating and engaging in the ISS and Gateway Medical Boards, Panels and Working Groups. In the case of the HBP, the main working level groups are the ISS Spaceflight Human Behavior and Performance Working Group, and the Artemis Behavioral Health and Performance Working Group.

Human Behavioral Health and Performance (HBP) support focuses on behavioral factors that shape astronaut and crew performance on short and long duration missions, including but not limited to:

• psychological adaptation to living in small volume for living quarters, confinement, isolation from social support, family separation, small team interaction, etc.
• Human‑to‑system interface factors, including technologies and interfaces used to perform tasks and mitigate risks, habitability of the space vehicle, etc.
• Fatigue and sleep problems caused by onboard work and rest schedules and imposed circadian rhythm shifts
• Behavioral health factors, including individual psychosocial health and performance and functioning of the crew as a unit

HBP support also includes support, monitoring and training during the pre-assignment and pre-mission periods, as well as during post-mission phase for astronauts and their families. It also includes periodic mental health assessments for astronauts to validate their readiness for missions. It may also include adjustment support for astronauts post career.

Canada currently has four active astronauts and three of them and their families are located in Houston. Routine monitoring and support meetings with the astronauts and their families are of a preventative nature and conducted in person, and/or by phone or video- conferencing. Most of the mission training and support events take place in Houston. The requirement for evaluation, support and consulting services is dependent on the operational circumstances, mission schedules, and planning activities and, therefore, intermittent by nature, to be provided as and when required. In case of mission support, changes in schedules on short notice are typical.

The services are required from the contract award to March 31, 2031. During this time period, Canada is scheduled to have three space missions: two aboard the ISS and one Artemis Mission. Mission support and training activities for two of these missions are in progress.