We spent Spring 2020 on a mission to gather as much data as we could about our problem space, uncover insights, and reframe them into design goals.

  • How do experts diagnose complex systems?
  • What are the needs of users?
  • Where have those needs shifted?
  • What are the impacts of the communication delay?

Today on the International Space Station, crew members have constant communication with ground with no more delay than a long-distance phone call.

Crew members on long-duration space missions will face delays of up to 40 minutes, and even complete communication blackouts.

Based on historical mission data, it is highly likely that Mars crew members will need to solve urgent vehicle problems on their own.

Background Research

  • What are the needs of users?

We could have spent years researching NASA and its history. But we are designers, and rapidly learning domains is what we do. We kicked off the semester by diving into books, films, research papers (so many research papers), podcasts, basically anything we could get our hands on.

These readings allowed us to identify important stakeholders within NASA, specifically in mission control, and spurred ideas for the types of technology a final solution could include.

“One of the most valuable resources in the solar system will likely be a workhour of an astronaut’s time on Mars.”
Diagnostic Principle #1
Become familiar with the equipment.

Primary Research

  • What is the relationship between crew and flight control like? What are the pain points?

In order to design the future of space travel, we needed a robust understanding of the current state of space travel. What works well? What are the pain points? What risks will be increased in long-duration space travel?

We took a 3 day research trip to Johnson Space Center where we interviewed Flight Controllers and Administrators and observed a Mission Control training simulation. We also later interviewed two astronauts. We held interpretation sessions, and then synthesized our data in a massive affinity map and journey maps.

Insight #1
Flight controllers special, irreplaceable skill is real-time risk assessment and decision making.
Insight #2
These same critical thinking skills are not rewarded in the astronaut crew, and the crew can’t possibly remember all of their intensive systems training.
Diagnostic Principle #2
Fresh eyes can see things that experts miss.

Analogous Domains

  • How do experts diagnose complex systems?

For the answer to this question, we looked to experts in a range of fields, including HVAC, electrical engineering, mining, and auto repair. We focused on fields in which engineers face space-like conditions such as isolation and communication gaps.

"I really don't want that to be a problem."

- N, Electrical Engineer
Insight #3
People are tempted to cut corners while troubleshooting, especially when they get stressed or frustrated.
Diagnostic Principle #3
Consult other resources, ask other people for help.

Quarantine Diary Study

  • What are the physical and psychological pain points of deep space travel?

We set out next to study the effects of isolation on productivity and daily living. With people across the world quarantining in their homes due to COVID-19, we noticed a unique opportunity to access a large sample size. We created a ten-day diary study that prompted participants to reflect on their general mood, productivity, and best and worst parts of the day while in isolation.

“Trying to come up with excuses why my work output is decreasing, I haven't worked up the nerve to tell anyone of my anxiety attacks.”
"Typing this out for some unknown person to read is really helping me cope."
Diagnostic Principle #4
Use all your senses, not just vision.

Storyboards & Speed Dating

  • What needs identified thus far are valid?

With a wealth of research materials to pull from, we began to identify future needs of astronauts on their way to Mars. For each identified need, we created a storyboard illustration of a potential solution to the need, though we purposely left the mechanisms of the solution vague.

Validated Needs:

  • Access to data
  • Best practice reminders
  • Connection during isolation
  • Incorporating learned information into guidance
  • Multimodal information
  • Supplementing memory for training
Diagnostic Principle #4
Try things that are lowest risk to test.

Solution Criteria

Our research revealed an opportunity to create diagnostic technology to supplement the problem solving workflow during an anomaly. We identified four criteria for success within this workflow:

Access

Easy access to resources including telemetry, procedures, and schematics

Best Practices

A clear workflow that follows troubleshooting best practices

Critical Thinking

Nudges towards asking critical questions and considering downstream effects

Documentation

Painless documentation that helps the crew as much as it helps MCC

View Solution
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