Sociotechnical Considerations for the Development of the Space Station: Autonomy and the Human Element in Space

Abstract

This article addresses organization design and effectiveness with respect to sociotechnical systems (STS) applications to the development of space stations by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The author addresses the issues of how much autonomy those on the station should exercise with respect to ground control and the interaction between humans and machines, proposing that an STS approach is most appropriate for designing this sort of organization. The article discusses issues related to this application and concludes with the author's recommendations of areas in need offurther study.