Towards Balanced Astronaut-Oriented Design for Future EVA Space Technologies

Abstract

The realization of humanity’s aspiration to establish permanent outposts on the Moon and beyond will necessitate a substantial increase in the complexity and frequency of Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). An innovative ecosystem comprising dependable, secure, and user-centric technologies will have to be developed to effectively assist and safeguard astronauts during these EVAs. Historical endeavors in the realm of space systems development have predominantly been shaped by engineering-driven safety considerations. This has typically resulted in solutions tailored towards a narrow range of carefully pre-planned procedures. Conversely, the expanded scope of future EVAs will require tools capable of underpinning a wide array of activities that may not always be predictable. This position paper asserts that addressing this situation requires the development of a balanced astronaut-oriented participatory design approach to effectively identify design requirements and develop design prototypes for future EVA technologies. Drawing upon established methods in technology development, such as balanced human systems integration (bHSI), human system exploration, and concurrent engineering, we propose the integration of astronauts and domain experts throughout the entire design process. Prior to technological development, significant emphasis should be placed on exploring initial design requirements and concepts. Furthermore, the development of EVA tools should emphasize the establishment of iterative feedback loops between all stakeholders ensuring adaptability of the technology across all stages in the development lifecycle. Derived from those principles, we propose a systematic balanced astronaut-oriented design framework aimed at enabling efficient, cost-effective, and targeted development of EVA technologies starting from the early design process. We illustrate the applicability of this approach by outlining the design procedure of AR interfaces in support of future EVAs.