An Overview of NASA's Space Exploration Vision: The Human Systems Integration Challenges

The space exploration vision announced by President Bush on January 14, 2004 requires a new way of thinking about human-machine systems. A progressive and sustained exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other destinations of discovery will depend on system design that supports and extends the capabilities of our astronauts through advanced automation, distributed mission support, and effective human-robot teaming. We provide an overview of the developmental program of exploration, and the critical Human-Systems Integration (HSI) challenges associated with each of seven operational domains: mission control operations; self-sufficient spacecraft operations; extra-vehicular activity / teleoperations; training and on-board decision support; launch-site operations; HSI engineering support; and behavioral health and performance.