Document Open Access Logo

Human Factors and Behavioral Performance Evaluation Framework for IntraVehicular Activities(IVAs) Under Simulated Lunar Gravity: Focus on the Lunar Agriculture Module (LAM)

Authors Kyunghwan Kim , Daniel Schubert , Gisela Detrell , Aidan Cowley

PDF

File

Thumbnail PDF
PDF
OASIcs.SpaceCHI.2025.14.pdf
  • Filesize: 5.29 MB
  • 15 pages

Document Identifiers

Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Human-centered computing → Mixed / augmented reality
  • Human-centered computing → User studies
  • Hardware → Sensor devices and platforms
Keywords
  • Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS)
  • Human Factors and Behavioral Performance (HFBP) Evaluation
  • Human-In-The-Loop (HITL)
  • Intravehicular Activity (IVA)
  • Lunar Agriculture Module (LAM)
  • Mixed Reality (MR)
  • Module Design Optimization
  • Simulated Lunar Gravity

Metrics

Abstract

The Planetary Infrastructure Research Group at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing a Lunar Agriculture Module (LAM) to support sustainable food production and provide Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) functions for long-duration lunar missions. Despite various ongoing research efforts on BLSS development and lunar surface human activities, a critical knowledge gap remains regarding how reduced gravity (0.16g) impacts human factors and behavioral performance (HFBP) during intravehicular activities (IVAs) in a lunar module. To fill the existing research gap, DLR is constructing the Lunar Agriculture Module - Reduced Gravity Simulator (LAM-RGS). The LAM-RGS integrates a Mixed Reality (MR) environment - combining Physical Reality (PR) mockups and Virtual Reality (VR) systems - with a gravity offloading system and multimodal data acquisition tools. This simulator will assess task performance, workload, and biomechanics under simulated lunar gravity conditions to optimize the internal system and rack design of the LAM, minimize ergonomic risks, and improve human-system interaction. 
To achieve these goals, this paper presents the experimental design and architecture of the LAM-RGS, introducing a four-pillar research framework consisting of: (1) simulator system development and experimental design, (2) system integration and validation, (3) human factors and performance assessment, and (4) data-driven design optimization. The proposed methodology provides a foundation for systematically evaluating human performance in lunar IVA operations and supports the evidence-based design of future lunar habitat systems.

Cite As Get BibTex

Kyunghwan Kim, Daniel Schubert, Gisela Detrell, and Aidan Cowley. Human Factors and Behavioral Performance Evaluation Framework for IntraVehicular Activities(IVAs) Under Simulated Lunar Gravity: Focus on the Lunar Agriculture Module (LAM). In Advancing Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration (SpaceCHI 2025). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 130, pp. 14:1-14:15, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025) https://doi.org/10.4230/OASIcs.SpaceCHI.2025.14

Author Details

Kyunghwan Kim
  • Institute of Space Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Bremen, Germany
Daniel Schubert
  • Institute of Space Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Bremen, Germany
Gisela Detrell
  • Professorship Human Spaceflight Technology, Technical University of Munich(TUM), Ottobrunn, Germany
Aidan Cowley
  • European Space Agency (ESA)- European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany

Funding

  • Kim, Kyunghwan: Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the "DLR/DAAD Research Fellowships – Doctoral Studies in Germany (DAAD, No. 57726178)."

Acknowledgements

This research benefits from the strong support of the LUNA Facility team. Appreciation is extended to Dr. Andrea Casini, Wafa M. Sadri, and other team members for their anticipated collaboration. Gratitude is also expressed to Vincent Vrakking, Claudia Philpot, Anna Bahnmüller, and Georgia Cesar de Albuquerque Richers (DLR) for their contribution and continued support.

References

  1. Tanya Andrews and Brittani Searcy. Using virtual reality and motion capture as tools for human factors engineering at nasa marshall space flight center. In AIAA NEXT GEN 2019. AIAA, 2019. URL: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20190032377/downloads/20190032377.pdf.
  2. N. Brandenburger, A. Dressler, and J. Grippenkoven. Dlr workload assessment tool (dlr-wat)-official english version, 2023. Google Scholar
  3. Jess Bunchek, Gerhild Bornemann, Ilse Holbeck, Andre Fonseca Prince, and Ferdinand Rewicki. System design of the eden luna greenhouse: Upgrading eden iss for future moon mission simulations. In ICES, 2024. Google Scholar
  4. S. P. Chappell, J. R. Norcross, and M. L. Gernhardt. Effect of changing the center of gravity on human performance in simulated lunar gravity, 2009. URL: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090038964.
  5. Nathan Cranford and Jennifer Turner. Hera crew members step into augmented reality. URL: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/hera-crew-members-step-into-augmented-reality/.
  6. Patricia Delacey. An augmented reality assessment designed to test astronaut adjustment to gravity changes. URL: https://ioe.engin.umich.edu/2024/02/28/an-augmented-reality-assessment-designed-to-test-astronaut-adjustment-to-gravity-changes/.
  7. J. W. Ehrlich and et al. Plant growth optimization by vegetable production system in hi-seas analog habitat. In American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2017. Google Scholar
  8. ESA. The science of moon hopping. URL: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/The_science_of_Moon_hopping.
  9. ESA. Virtual reality brings esa’s argonaut moon lander to life. URL: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Virtual_reality_brings_ESA_s_Argonaut_Moon_lander_to_life.
  10. ESA/DLR. Introducing puppeteer: Because earth gravity is just too mainstream. URL: https://luna-analog-facility.de/en/introducing-puppeteer-because-earth-gravity-is-just-too-mainstream/.
  11. ESA/DLR. Luna analog facility, 2024. URL: https://luna-analog-facility.de/en/.
  12. G. Fau et al. Luna puppeteer: A large scale and multi-agent gravity offloading solution to train astronauts for moon exploration missions. In LUNA PUPPETEER: A Large Scale and Multi-Agent Gravity Offloading Solution to Train Astronauts for Moon Exploration Missions, 2024. Google Scholar
  13. Omar S. Bekdash et al. Development and evaluation of the active response gravity offload system as a lunar and martian eva simulation environment. In ICES, 2020. Google Scholar
  14. J. I. Gitelson, G. M. Lisovsky, and A. A. Tikhomirov. Optimal structure of plant conveyor for human life support in a closed ecosystem ‘bios-3’. In Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems, pages 297-304. Springer Netherlands, 1997. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8889-8_18.
  15. Z. Hao and et al. Effects of long term isolation on the emotion change of ‘lunar palace 365’ crewmembers. Sci Bull (Beijing), 64(13):881-884, 2019. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2019.05.019.
  16. Elizabeth Howell. On a simulated mars, botanist wants to bring some green to the red planet. URL: https://www.space.com/growing-plants-on-mars-analog-desert.html.
  17. Sarah L. Jarvis et al. Development of argos (active response gravity offload system) offloading assessments and methodology for lunar eva simulations. In 52nd International Conference on Environmental Systems, February 2023. Accessed: Apr. 02, 2025. URL: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230002430.
  18. P. Kourtesis, S. Collina, and S.E. MacPherson. The effect of haptic feedback on temporal and spatial perception in virtual reality. URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.07400.
  19. Gabriel G. De la Torre. Cognitive neuroscience in space. Life, 4(3):281-294, 2014. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/life4030281.
  20. V. Maiwald, K. Kyunghwan, V. Vrakking, and C. Zeidler. From antarctic prototype to ground test demonstrator for a lunar greenhouse. Acta Astronaut, 212:246-260, 2023. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.08.012.
  21. Volker Maiwald, Charmaine Claire Neufeld, Michel Fabien Franke, Daniel Schubert, Vincent Vrakking, Conrad Zeidler, and Jared Stoochnoff. Lunar agricultural module ground test demonstrator – an international approach for realizing plant-based bio-regenerative life support. In Proceedings of the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Milan, Italy, October 2024. IAC-24-D3.2A.2. URL: https://elib.dlr.de/207197/1/IAC-24%2CD3%2C2A%2C2%2Cx86994.pdf.
  22. P. Milgram, H. Takemura, A. Utsumi, and F. Kishino. Augmented reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum. In H. Das, Ed., pages 282-292. Spie, 1994. URL: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.197321.
  23. NASA. Advanced plant habitat. URL: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/advanced-plant-habitat/.
  24. NASA. Nasa tlx (task load index). URL: https://humansystems.arc.nasa.gov/groups/tlx/.
  25. NASA. Veggie. URL: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf.
  26. J NASA. Nasa space flight human-system standard volume 1, revision a: Crew health, 2015. Google Scholar
  27. NASA JPL. Upgrading the space station’s cold atom lab with mixed reality. URL: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/upgrading-the-space-stations-cold-atom-lab-with-mixed-reality/.
  28. J. R. Norcross and et al. Metabolic costs inclined ambul in a planetary s s and biomechanics of lation and exploration suit, 2010. URL: http://www.sti.nasa.gov.
  29. R. L. Patterson, G. A. Giacomelli, M. Kacira, P. D. Sadler, and R. M. Wheeler. Description, operation and production of the south pole food growth chamber. Acta Hortic, 1(952):589-596, 2012. URL: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.952.75.
  30. V. Radhakrishnan, D. Saldanha, and S. Vijayakumar. The role of haptic feedback in motor learning within virtual reality. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37747855/.
  31. Paola Rodriguez. Four-person crew sealed into pressurized habitat to learn about space living. URL: https://news.azpm.org/p/newsc/2023/4/28/215776-four-person-crew-sealed-into-pressurized-habitat-to-learn-about-space-living/#:~:text=A%20new%20adventure%20is%20beginning,be%20like%20on%20another%20planet.
  32. Jackelynne Silva-Martinez, Gordon Vos, Jennifer Boyer, Robert Durkin, William Foley, Sarah Margerum, Kritina Holden, Victoria Smith, Leah Beebe, and Chris Van Velson. Human-in-the-loop evaluations: Process and mockup fidelity. In 51st International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), St. Paul, Minnesota, July 2022. ICES-2022-133. URL: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20220000689/downloads/ICES%202022_HITL%20Paper_Final.pdf.
  33. Thales Alenia Space. Life inside lunar i-hab: studies continue. URL: https://www.thalesaleniaspace.com/en/news/life-inside-lunar-i-hab-studies-continue.
  34. P. Zabel, C. Zeidler, V. Vrakking, M. Dorn, and D. Schubert. Biomass production of the eden iss space greenhouse in antarctica during the 2018 experiment phase. Front Plant Sci, 11, 2020. URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00656.
Any Issues?
X

Feedback on the Current Page

CAPTCHA

Thanks for your feedback!

Feedback submitted to Dagstuhl Publishing

Could not send message

Please try again later or send an E-mail
© 2023-2025 Schloss Dagstuhl – LZI GmbH About DROPS Imprint Privacy Contact