Selecting astronauts for long-duration exploration missions: Considerations for team performance and functioning

With this in mind, the purpose of this review is to identify the critical psychological factors, especially those relevant to functioning in a team-based mission, to consider during the astronaut selection process that may mitigate risk factors and enhance team performance. First, a review of the risk factors that have an identified impact on team performance will serve as context for the critical psychological factors to consider in selection. Second, this review will examine the psychological factors to consider in the selection process to best mitigate the risk factors previously identified. Third, selection methods and measures used to evaluate these psychological factors will be identified. Fourth and finally, we will list recommendations for current operations and future research.