Conduct your own research during an analog space mission.
Crew Member Study (CS) gives participants the opportunity to turn their own mission experience into research data. It is designed for small-scale, low-overhead studies that can be conducted by the participant themselves during a LunAres mission, with no additional costs.
CS Research uses the existing mission environment and standard mission infrastructure. Research activities are integrated into the mission schedule with a maximum total research time of 1 hour per day, making the format suitable for short, repeated measurements and other low-burden study designs. The submitting researcher conducts the study and collects the research data themselves.
Crew Member Study – PILOT WITHOUT THE COSTS
Crew Member Study (CS) provides crew members with a no-cost opportunity to test research procedures, methods, or equipment during a LunAres mission. It is intended for small-scale research activities that can be conducted within a limited and predefined time allocation.
CS Research is particularly suitable for testing procedures on the participating researcher, collecting preliminary data, or evaluating a research protocol before a larger study. It can also be used for activities that fit within a fixed individual research slot of up to 1 hour per day, without requiring additional mission resources or changes to the mission architecture.
The study must be submitted to and approved by the LunAres team before the mission. Research activities must fit within the available time slot and comply with mission safety and operational requirements.
There are no additional costs for this kind of study if it is planned according to the CS requirements.
- Self-report and questionnaire studies – Short daily or recurring questionnaires assessing mood, perceived workload, stress, fatigue, motivation, sleep quality, or mission experience.
- Usability testing – Testing a software interface, digital tool, procedure, checklist, or other research tool by the participant during normal mission activities and providing structured feedback.
- Researcher self-testing – Conducting a small proof-of-concept study in which the researcher/participant tests a research method, device, procedure, or measurement protocol on themselves during the mission.
- Preliminary data collection for a larger study – Collecting a limited dataset from the participant to evaluate feasibility, refine a protocol, or generate preliminary results for a future Expanded, Prime, or external research project.
The Crew Member Study proposals should be submitted 2 months prior to the mission.
LunAres Data included in the Mission Participation Package:
- Individual medical checks and sleep diary conducted during the mission
- Mission schedule
- Role and responsibility description
- Water resource use summary
- Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) simulation summary reports.
- Review the available LunAres data list here.
- Schedule: max 1h during preflight and postflight, max 1 hour daily during the mission simulation.
Preflight – the slot for individual CS studies is planned on the last day of pretflight. At that moment, LunAres Team already had an opprotunity to introduce infrastructure, equipment and operational and safety protocol.
Mission – every day, all crew members have a 1h slot in the schedule, for their individual Crew Member Study. It is planned in the morning window, between 11:30 and 13:00.
Postflight – the 1h slot for individual CS session is planned for the morning of postflight. Usually around 9 am.
- The time slots for individual Crew Member Studies are planned for 2-13th day of a standard mission.
- Only temporarily, reversible modifications can be done to the LunAres infrastructure/equipment.
- The personal data can be collected only from the one Participant that is conducting the research – no other crew member can be involved in the data collection for the CS. In case the Participants are interested in including more subjects – the study should be proposed and executed as an External Study (following deadlines, costs and requirements).
- LunAres Team is not able to guarantee the participation/time for involvement from other crew members.
Do you want to submit a Crew Member Study proposal?
When filling in the form, please pay attention to the fact, that there should be enough information to review feasibility and safety of the study. The LunAres team reviews the proposal to determine:
- Whether the study is compatible with the available mission environment.
- What level of LunAres support is required.
- What crew member time and mission resources are needed.
- Whether equipment or infrastructure adaptations are required. And if yes – are they feasible, temporary and easy to implement.
- What LunAres data is requested.
- Whether the selected research format is appropriate for the submitted study.
- What are the risks and hazards of the study.
How does the submission, implementation and execution process look like?
- Submission of Crew Member Study proposal. Should be submitted 2 months before the mission.
- After the Crew Member Study proposal is submitted, the LunAres team reviews the information, to see if it is sufficient to check feasibility, safety. In case there is any information missing – the LunAres Team will reach out back to the researcher.
- LunAres Team provides feedback on feasibility,safety and organises a call with the researcher.
- Final form of the research should be prepared by the Researcher based on the guidelines from the LunAres Team.
- Completion of required administrative work (e.g. Agreement Form signing) Min 1 month before the mission.
- Researcher provides remaining documentation for review – e.g. more detailed procedures.
- Mission Preparation and implementation of the study.
- Mission and study execution.
- The post mission data collection package prepared by LunAres is sent to the Researcher.
Not sure whether Crew Member Study is feasible or whether another research format would be more appropriate? Start with our Research Consultation Form.