RIPLEE: Design guidelines for mental health support in deep space using virtual reality

Future missions to the Moon and Mars will include significant and novel challenges such as multiple years in space, no real time communication with earth, and limited resource rendezvous. This thesis evaluates interactive technology interventions to support the mental health of crewmembers on future long-term deep space missions. This was done by conducting a literature review of artificial intelligence and virtual reality systems currently being used for mental health and space travel. This review informed questions for expert interviews that were then conducted with retired astronauts and analogue astronauts (n = 5). This literature review and expert interviews informed the RIPLEE Design Guidelines for the creation of a virtual reality system to support mental health in deep space. These guidelines are based on protective factors identified and how they could be supported using VR. Future research areas were then presented using the guidelines for both astronaut and general populations.