What Makes a Good Astronaut? Psychology in Space

What does it really take to be a good astronaut?In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore the psychology of space work, from the personality traits linked to astronaut success to the team dynamics that shape performance in isolated, high-pressure environments.Drawing on research from space missions and Mars simulation studies, they discuss how communication, conflict, stress and motivation influence team effectiveness, and why diverse crews perform better under pressure.From astronaut selection to the future of Mars exploration, this episode looks at what space can teach us about resilience, teamwork, and human performance when the stakes are highest.References:Pena I, Chen H (2025) Exploring team dynamics and performance in extended space missions using agent-based modeling. PLoS One 20(10): e0332496. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332496A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking.Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.