Commercial space tourism: An integrative review of spaceflight participant psychological assessment and training

Abstract

Health issues typical of the expected commercial space tourism (CST) population are considered manageable, but less is known about the impact of psychological conditions on spaceflight participant (SFP) wellbeing and safety during spaceflight. Plans to detect and prepare SFP for potential effects of psychological conditions emerging during spaceflight are unknown and may be inadequate. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to identify CST operators’ plans for SFP psychological assessment and training. Forty-four (44) articles met inclusion criteria and were largely composed of grey and popular literature sourced online. Plans for SFP psychological assessment and training prior to CST were not found, although vague descriptions of training for specific CST opportunities and limited medical assessment information was located. An undisclosed or possibly non-existent psychological support approach will likely be insufficient to ensure SFP safety and optimal performance during emergencies. Instead, detailed and focused intentional screening of SFP should be completed by appropriate members of a transdisciplinary healthcare team at various phases of the spaceflight experience. Following assessment, collaborative decision making to develop training, interventions, and mitigation strategies in support of individual SFP psychological needs should occur before, during and after spaceflight. The strategies should align with standards of care and inform urgently-needed SFP research. Knowledge gained from future research will contribute to appropriate, effective SFP psychological assessments, intervention and training development, testing, and implementation, and overall management of SFP programs and strategy development aimed at optimizing the CST experience and goals.