Augmented Astronaut Survival: Updating the NASA Moon Survival task in preparation for an Artemis Edition

The Augmented Humans (AHs) International Conference 2024, April 4-6, Monash University, AU

Sarah Jane Pell

As humanity confronts the escalating complexities of space exploration, the development of innovative methodologies tailored to augment humans in the lunar environment is essential. This keynote posits a transformative framework for experimental approaches in space survival, particularly for the Artemis missions, through creative engagement and inventive brainstorming. It takes a participatory "research-through-performance," scenario approach to probe the tapestry of scientific, engineering, and cultural challenges that future lunar missions will inevitably face. The early NASA Moon Survival Task, initiated before the Apollo landings, provided insights into team-think dynamics and decision-making under duress, ensuring its relevance and use for over 50 years. However, the now-rudimentary survival kit contents are mismatched with the intricate realities of forthcoming lunar expedition technology, interactions, and protocols. Therefore, I present a newly reimagined scenario—"How to Survive on the Moon: The Artemis Edition"—a mission enriched with exponential technologies and speculated systems, including immersive virtual environments, bio-regenerative life-support, adaptive smart suits, personalised medicine, and 3D additive manufacturing. Today’s challenge is again more than updating the toolkit; it primes the augmented human community for the nuanced demands of space and ignites a focus on emergency preparedness. Seeking new ways of collective brainstorming for the reconceptualisation of resource management and resourcefulness remains critical. Ultimately, asking important questions about what Augmented Astronauts need, seeks to support the next generation of lunar explorers—empowered today by global transdisciplinary collaboration, equipped with transformational technologies, and critically prepared to thrive in the Artemis era.

CCS Concepts

Augmented Humans - Applied computing ~ Aerospace

Keywords

Augmented Human, Astronaut, Lunar Survival, Artemis, Human-Computer Interaction.

"How to Survive on the Moon: The Artemis Edition"

AHs Keynote Performance, MADA Gallery

The Augmented Humans (AHs) International Conference 2024 focuses on physical, cognitive, and perceptual augmentation of humans through digital technologies. The plural – humans – emphasizes the move towards technologies that enhance human capabilities beyond the individual and will have the potential for impact on a societal scale. The idea of augmenting the human intellect has a long tradition, the term was coined by Douglas Engelbart in 1962 [1]. Today, many of the technologies envisioned by Engelbart and other are commonplace, and looking towards the future, many technologies which amplify the human body and mind far beyond the original vision are within reach. [1] Engelbart, Douglas C.: “AUGMENTING HUMAN INTELLECT: A Conceptual Framework.” (1962). See https://augmented-humans.org

The performative keynote "How to Survive on the Moon: The Artemis Edition" aims to examine the pivotal role of augmented human technologies in transforming lunar exploration missions. By leveraging and proposing an updated Moon Survival task as a conceptual framework, Pell encourages the audience to critically assess the integration and prioritisation of exponential technologies by future astronauts. The theatrical yet informative engagement underscores the necessity for cooperative interdisciplinary research and ethical considerations, with a view to contribute to the advancement of human augmentation in space exploration and design contexts. It concludes with an accessible invitation to the AHs community to apply for current call outs of space-related opportunities, and to continue meaningful debate on the fair distribution of benefits and risks of human spaceflight, for identifying key legal, social, and ethical implications of our role in the Artemis and Moon-to-Mars efforts.

Sarah Jane, Pell. 2024. Augmented Astronaut Survival: Updating the NASA Moon Survival task in preparation for an Artemis Edition. Keynote. In AH’24: Augmented Humans Conference, April 04–06, 2024, Melbourne, AU. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 15 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3652920.3654916

Acknowledgement

Part of this work derives from support for the Performing Astronautics project assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Fellowship ID: 222966

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