Rest and Activity Patterns for Prolonged Extraterrestrial Missions

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Rest and Activity Patterns for Prolonged Extraterrestrial Missions

A. N. Nicholson

Difficulties in obtaining satisfactory sleep have been encountered during many space missions and it is generally recognized that an appropriate rest and activity pattern is essential to maintain the well being and operational effectiveness of spacecrews. During earth orbital flights and lunar explorations satisfactory sleep is more likely if the crews maintain a reasonable relation with their normal terrestrial rhythm but many missions have required unusual patterns of activity. Irregular duty periods superimposed upon daily cycles of varying duration are experienced by long haul transport aircrew and an analysis of these schedules has suggested that irregular patterns of rest are compatible with a satisfactory sleep pattern as long as the workload is limited. It is considered that a similar relationship could be established for prolonged spaceflights and in this context the sleep patterns of an airline pilot operating worldwide schedules have been examined and relevant recent work on modified sleep regimes discussed. (Author Modified Abstract)