Abstract
Since 2007, the Institute of Bio-Medical Problems in Moscow, in cooperation with the European Space Agency has been conducting a multidisciplinary experiment simulating the conditions of a long lasting spaceflight. An international crew made of 6 members was placed in a ground based experimental replica of a spacecraft.
During both stages (the 105-days-long second stage and the third 520-days-long stage) of the experiment we let the crew assess its communication, cooperation and other parameters of their relationships in regular, approximately 14-days-long intervals. The objective of our research was to monitor the group dynamics and to find any trends and to detect any significant changes that may predict possible failures and misunderstandings.
For the data analysis, we used the Sociomapping method that allows the visualization of the cotinuous changes in the crew. The results imply that Sociomapping might be a suitable tool for prediction and timely intervention in certain critical situations of the crew.