Extreme News - from HPEE

China's First Space Station on the Horizon

2011-10-01T10:45:00.002-04:00

Artist's concept of the Tiangong 1 and Shenzhou spacecraft docking in orbit.
Credit: China Manned Space Engineering Office

As reported by Spaceflight Now, China's space program is on the verge of launching its first space station. The relatively small complex will involve a module called Tiangong 1 docked with a Shenzhou capsule.

In the article, Stephen Clark writes:

The docked Shenzhou and Tiangong vehicles will form a miniature space station stretching approximately 60 feet long.

The docking demo, which is scheduled before the end of the year, will be a crucial accomplishment for China's future space aspirations. The construction and servicing of space stations will require modules to autonomously meet and link up in orbit.

Crews aboard two more Shenzhou missions in 2012 will launch to the orbiting laboratory for short-duration stays. The objectives of those missions will include space science, medical and technological experiments.

The Tiangong 1 module will remain operational for up to two years, hosting two visiting crews for brief missions.

For more on China's space station, see Clark's full article at Spaceflight Now.com.

HPEE 9th Annual Meeting Update

2011-09-11T19:14:00.004-04:00

9th Annual Meeting of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments

The 9th Annual Meeting of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments (HPEE) is scheduled for September 18-19, 2011 at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Visit the meeting page to register and for specific room location. The meeting will precede the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting (see www.hfes.org), also at the Red Rock Hotel, Hyatt Regency, September 19-23, 2011.

Scheduled Presenters

Living and Working on "Mars"

John Deaton (Florida Institute of Technology)

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue: Training and Accomplishments

Timothy Szymanski (Fire-Public Information Officer, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue)

Lessons Learnt from a Resource Constrained Applied Cognitive Task Analysis on Tactical Force Protection Mission Planning

Stas Krupenia, Cecilia Aguero, and Masja Kempen (Thales Research and Technology, the Netherlands)

Dual-task Performance in Rock Climbing

Alexander L. Green, and William S. Helton (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand)

Cognitive Patterns During Endurance Activities: The Mind of the Ultra Athlete

Anna M. Vitalis (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

The Impact of Emotions and Predominant Emotion Regulation Technique on the Cardiac Activity Underlying Expert and Non-Expert Dual-Task Driving Performance

Gabriella M. Hancock and Christopher Janelle (Performance Psychology Laboratory, University of Florida)

Crew Composition for Long-Duration Spaceflight: Historical Perspectives and Future Recommendations

Jason P. Kring, Rebecca Zgorksi, Stephanie Nicholas, Peter Aguero, and Chelsea Iwig (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

Neurofeedback for Attention Deficits: Implications for Aerospace Medicine

John Putnam (The EEG Institute)

Ergonomic Warfare: Designing Common Vehicles for Uncommon Users

Ryan Blanding (Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division)

Integrating Human Factors in Extreme Environments into a Senior Design Curriculum

Laura H. Ikuma, Craig Harvey, and Gerald Knapp (Louisiana State University)

Trust and HRI (tentative title)

Deb Billings, Kristin Oleson, and Peter Hancock (University of Central Florida)

Adventures on "The Dreadmill": Investigating the Physiological and Biomechanical Costs of Heavy Load Carriage, and their Effects on Combat Efficiency

Kimberly Pribanic (Mystery Ranch LTD, Montana State University)

HPEE Student Chapter Activities at Embry-Riddle

Tony Thomas (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

Additional Information

For more information about HPEE or the 9th Annual Meeting, please visit the 9th Meeting Page or www.hpee.org or contact Jason Kring at jason.kring@erau.edu

Extreme Scientists Don't Play it Safe

2011-06-14T11:02:00.000-04:00

Ask 100 people to describe a scientist and you will likely hear things like "works in a lab" or "wears a white coat and plays with test tubes all day." Scientific work is often viewed as dry, sterile, and devoid of danger. However, science in extreme environments contradicts this notion. Men and women conduct environmental studies at the Earth's poles, perform complex research aboard the international space station, or evaluate the effects of extreme conditions on the human body in military contexts. Furthermore, as Marc Kaufman describes in his NPR.org article, the general public may not fully appreciate what scientists endure to add to our body of knowledge. Kaufman notes,

"Often in the reporting about science, the adventure, the risk and the physical difficulty of the research gets shunted aside and ignored. Science tends to be seen as the work of people who don't willingly expose themselves to physical hardship and danger."

See Kaufman's full article for more on his experience following a group of scientists searching for creatures living in extreme environments.

Professor Lives and Works on "Mars"

2011-04-26T13:25:00.001-04:00

John Deaton on "Mars." Photo credit Florida Today.

Setting aside the technological, financial, and international cooperation challenges of a human mission to Mars, one of the biggest obstacles is the human factor. Depending on the plan, a round-trip flight could require between 2 to 3 years. During that time, the crew will be exposed to high doses of radiation, endure months of bone- and muscle-weakening microgravity, all while living and working, together, in a complex and cramped environment. How will the human body and mind survive the journey? To date, the longest single flight--Valeri Polyakov's mission aboard the Russian space station Mir--was (only) 438 days.

One way scientists address this question is by studying the reactions of men and women participating in Mars-like simulation studies. In addition to the Mars500 study, conducted by the European Space Agency and the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems, dozens of scientists have spent time at two Mars analog sites run by the Mars Society. As Michelle Spitzer describes in a Florida Today article, one scientist learned first hand what it might be like to take up residence on Mars:

"A month ago, Florida Tech professor John Deaton would have jumped at the chance to travel to Mars.

But that was before the College of Aeronautics professor spent two weeks in a simulated Mars habitat in a remote part of Utah.

"I think I've changed my tune," said Deaton, whose specialty is human factors. "It was a lot harder than I expected. I think going to Mars is going to be an extremely difficult mission."

Deaton emerged last week from the Mars Desert Research Station slightly sleep deprived and about 8 pounds lighter. His home for those two weeks was a two-story, 26-foot-long building he shared with five strangers from around the world.

Run by the nonprofit Mars Society, the station was created to simulate the red planet to allow researchers to better understand what would be required to staff an outpost on Mars."

Deaton is also featured in a video available at FloridaToday.com.

The Psychology of Endurance Running and Coping with Challenges

2011-04-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

Troy Espiritu. Photo from Psychology Today.

Science writer, and HPEE member, Jeff Wise knows a lot about fear. In his excellent book, Extreme Fear: The Science of Your Mind in Danger, Wise explored the latest research on how humans cope with extreme situations, and what fear does the to the body and mind. In his latest piece, Wise describes another extreme situation: running 100 miles, all at once. Wise's article, Tough Track, for Psychology Today, profiles another HPEE member, Troy Espiritu, and how he manages to run so far for so long. Wise writes:

"It's a pitch-black winter night and Troy Espiritu is in the middle of a forest somewhere in western Georgia. Espiritu, a compact, wiry man with close-cropped hair, jogs along the wilderness trail with a steady, dogged pace, his face a mask of exhaustion. He's been on the run since yesterday morning, nearly 20 hours ago, and he's utterly spent. Shivering uncontrollably from the cold, he notices that the trees on the margins of his headlamp beam seem to be falling on him. I'm hallucinating, he realizes. He's already run the equivalent of three consecutive marathons, and he's got a fourth left to go. If he can keep pace, he'll cross the 100-mile mark just as the sun rises.

Ultramarathons like this one are among the most grueling competitions ever devised, defying conventional notions of what the human body can do. But Espiritu is tough: He's completed four 100-mile races. And what's even more remarkable is that just five years ago, he was an ordinary guy who couldn't jog more than two miles at a stretch."

The article is relevant to human performance in extreme environments, not only because of Espiritu's story and his accomplishments, but also for the empirical background Wise provides on the science of handling challenges. Coping is a necessary part of living and working in extreme settings, and Wise offers a concise introduction to this area. See the full article at Psychology Today. Also, check out Wise's Psychology Today Blog.

Psychology of Space Exploration - New Book in the NASA History Series

2011-04-21T16:09:00.001-04:00

NEW IN THE NASA HISTORY SERIES

Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective

Edited by Douglas Vakoch

(Washington, D.C.: NASA SP-2011-4411), pp. x+254, hardcover.

This forthcoming book from the NASA History Series takes a new perspective on the human dimension of spaceflight. Through essays on topics including survival in extreme environments and the multicultural dimensions of exploration, readers will gain an understanding of the psychological challenges that have faced the space program since its earliest days. An engaging read for those interested in space, history, and psychology alike, Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective is a highly relevant read as we stand poised on the edge of a new era of spaceflight.

Early missions into space were typically brief, and crews were small, often drawn from a single nation. As an intensely competitive space race has given way to international cooperation over the decades, the challenges of communicating across cultural boundaries and dealing with interpersonal conflicts have become increasingly important, requiring different coping skills and sensibilities from “the right stuff” of early astronauts. With plans to establish a permanent colony on the Moon and to travel to Mars, the duration of expeditions will increase markedly, as will the psychosocial stresses. Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective provides an analysis of these and other challenges facing future space explorers. In addition to examining contemporary psychological research, each essay also explicitly addresses the history of the psychology of space exploration. Leading contributors to the field place the latest theories and empirical findings in historical context by examining changes in space missions over the past half century, as well as reviewing developments in psychological science during the same period. The essays are innovative in their approaches and conclusions, providing novel insights for behavioral researchers and historians alike.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction: Psychology and the U.S. Space Program

Albert A. Harrison, Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis

Edna R. Fiedler, National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine

Section I: Surviving and Thriving in Extreme Environments

Chapter 2. Behavioral Health

Albert A. Harrison, Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis
Edna R. Fiedler, National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine

Chapter 3. From Earth Analogs to Space: Getting There from Here

Sheryl L. Bishop, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch

Chapter 4. Patterns in Crew-Initiated Photography of Earth from the ISS—Is Earth Observation a Salutogenic Experience?

Julie A. Robinson, Office of the ISS Program Scientist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Kelley J. Slack, Behavioral Health and Performance Research, Wyle Laboratories
Valerie A. Olson, Department of Anthropology, Rice University
Michael H. Trenchard, Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, Engineering and Science Contract Group (ESCG), NASA JSC
Kimberly J. Willis, Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, ESCG, NASA JSC
Pamela J. Baskin, Behavioral Health and Performance Research, Wyle Laboratories
Jennifer E. Boyd, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Section II: Managing Interpersonal Conflict in Space

Chapter 5. Managing Negative Interactions in Space Crews: The Role of Simulator Research

Harvey Wichman, Aerospace Psychology Laboratory, Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University

Chapter 6. Gender Composition and Crew Cohesion During Long-Duration Space Missions

Jason P. Kring, Department of Human Factors and Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Megan A. Kaminski, Program in Human Factors and Applied Cognition, George Mason University

Section III: Multicultural Dimensions of Space Exploration

Chapter 7. Flying with Strangers: Postmission Reflections of Multinational Space Crews

Peter Suedfeld, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia
Kasia E. Wilk, Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services Research and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Children and Family Development
Lindi Cassel, Department of Occupational Therapy, Providence Health Care

Chapter 8. Spaceflight and Cross-Cultural Psychology

Juris G. Draguns, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University

Albert A. Harrison, Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis

Afterword. From the Past to the Future

Gro Mjeldheim Sandal, Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen
Gloria R. Leon, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota

How to Order: Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective is a forthcoming publication from the NASA History Program Office, a part of NASA’s Office of Communications Public Outreach Division. Please refer to the History Office website (http://history.nasa.gov/) for publication and ordering information for this book. Details regarding the availability of the book will be posted as soon as possible. Contact us via email at histinfo@hq.nasa.gov if you have any further questions.

Bringing Extreme to the Lab

2011-04-16T11:23:00.001-04:00

Solomon in heated altitude chamber
(photo by Michael Lewis)

For research on performance in extreme environments, scientists generally have to choose between the benefits of conducting controlled experiments in the laboratory with research in the more realistic "field." In the lab, one can most clearly see how manipulating one variable (the independent variable or IV) affects a second variable (the dependent variable or DV) while keeping all other variables constant (the extraneous variables). In the field, however, we have little to no control over these extraneous variables, thereby making it difficult to see a clear IV-DV relationship.

What's needed is a way to conduct controlled experiments in extreme conditions that mimic conditions in the field. For most researchers, this task is difficult, if not impossible. However, as Christopher Solomon, a writer for Outside Magazine, discovered, scientists at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine are succeeding in recreating the extreme in the lab. In his article, Solomon writes:

"THE PILL IS SMALL, PURPLE, CYLINDRICAL—ABOUT THE SIZE AND OMINOUSNESS OF A .38-CALIBER BULLET. I haven't known Robert Kenefick ten minutes when he hands me a rubber glove and tells me where I can stick it. Without wallowing in too much detail, let's just say the pill—which is really a wireless temperature sensor—isn't going in the easy way.

Kenefick is 45, bespectacled, with the ironed-khakis-and-Rockports appearance of the college professor he once was. He's not without sympathy. "I know most people want dinner and dancing before they do something like this," he jokes as he leads me to the restroom. Suddenly, I'm keenly aware of how bland my social life is.

Mission accomplished, I waddle back to the testing area. "Let's do it," says Kenefick. He opens a ponderous steel door, and we step into a metal-walled room that's precisely the suffocating temperature of a Tucson afternoon.

"Unnggh," I groan.

Kenefick is apologetic. Today the room is "only" 40 degrees Celsius—104 degrees Fahrenheit. The first time he ran this test, he says, "we had guys at 50 C," or 122 F. Somehow I don't feel shortchanged. The room's steel walls are hot. The steel floor is hot. Pumps roar as they exhale air that feels like a Bikram yoga lover's dream. Inside, I'll bake for the next three hours to get thoroughly dehydrated before I mount a stationary bike and pedal maniacally. The goal: to gauge just how much my performance craters when I'm hotter and thirstier than I've ever been.

KENEFICK IS A PHYSIOLOGIST at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)—a vanilla-sounding name for a cluster of gee-whiz laboratories, little known even inside the military, whose mission is to build soldiers capable of enduring anything Mother Nature throws their way. Though primarily a defense project, the institute's work also trickles down to civilian life, affecting how the rest of us run, drink, eat, exercise, and survive in the outdoors.

Kenefick specializes in heat problems. Army brass call when they want to know whether slathering on the insect repellent deet makes it harder for soldiers to sweat and cool off. (Nope.) Or when they want to learn how to make soldiers acclimate faster in sweltering conditions. (He's working on it.)"

See Solomon's full article at Oustide Online.com. Also, a thank you to Tony Thomas, a student in the Human Factors and Systems program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and member of the HPEE Student Chapter, for finding this article.

Human Systems Integration Symposium (HSIS) 2011

2011-04-11T13:48:00.001-04:00

HPEE is proud to be a sponsor of the Human Systems Integration Symposium presented by the American Society of Naval Engineers. Details and links for the symposium are below.

Human Systems Integration Symposium (HSIS) 2011
Sharpening the Spear: Integration and Interoperability for Warfighter Effectiveness

Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner
Vienna, VA
November 2 - 4, 2011

Quick Links:

HSIS 2011 Call for Papers/Presentations Now Open!

The Human Systems Integration Symposium (HSIS) 2011 is seeking technical papers and presentations. Human Systems Integration (HSI) saves money, saves time and saves people. HSI is a pivotal player in the systems-of-systems approach required for enhanced warfighter effectiveness that will outpace the threat with affordable total ownership costs. The complete integration of the human into the system contributes to seamless interoperability that in turn generates effectiveness and efficiencies beyond the individual operator or platform.

Call for Papers/Presentations

Symposium Topics:

3rd Leg of the Stool: Integrating the Human into the Total System
The Other "I": Human Systems Integration & Interoperability
Plug-and-Play People: The Role of Integrated Training
Free the Warfighter: Designing More Usable Systems
It Ain't Over at Milestone C: Logistics & Warfighter Feedback
Left of the Bang: The State of Safety in the Armed Forces
Destination Innovation: Modeling, Simulation & Immersive Environments
Boots on the Ground: HSI in Iraq, Afghanistan and Japan
There's an App for That: HSI Practitioner's Tools
Pencils Down: HSI Test & Evaluation from Usability to Operational Effectiveness
Avoiding Bankruptcy: The Economics of Ergonomics and Other Cost Implications of HSI
Hidden Manpower Drivers: HSI in Autonomous Systems, Cyberspace & COT

Instructions for Abstract Submissions

Submissions of both technical papers and presentations are welcomed. A paper is not required for presentations, but authors submitting papers must also submit a presentation with their final draft. Completed papers will automatically be eligible for a Best Paper or Best Student Paper Award. Please submit abstracts to HSIS2011@navalengineers.org with the subject "HSIS 2011 Abstract" by the May 6 deadline. Note: All HSI-related abstract submittals will be considered.

Submissions must include:

Name and address of all authors, organizations, phone numbers, and email addresses
Title of Paper or Presentation
Associated Symposium Topic If Applicable (See above)
Indication of whether submission is "Presentation Only" or "Paper with Presentation"
- If it is a student paper, please write the word "Student" in front of the choice
Unclassified one-page abstract describing the scope and major thrust of the paper/presentation

Important Dates

06 May - Abstracts Due
03 June - Notification of Acceptance
15 July - Draft Paper/Presentation Due
26 August - Final Paper Due
05 October - Final Presentation Due

Questions

Have a question regarding the HSIS 2011 Call for Papers/Presentations? Contact HSIS 2011 Technical Papers Chair Dr. Kelly O'Brien at HSIS2011@navalengineers.org.

Have a general question about HSIS 2011? Contact ASNE at (703) 836-6727 or meetings@navalengineers.org.

A Race You Cannot Finish?

2011-04-10T00:36:00.002-04:00

For the past 20 or so years, I have been a runner. By runner, I mean someone who ran a few times a week, but never more than 3-4 miles at a time. I ran because it was enjoyable and a great way to stay healthy and keep stress at bay. A couple of 5 K races here and there were the extent of my "racing" activity, and I was happy.

Then, about two years ago, I decided to run a half-marathon, up the side of a mountain, with bad knees. After nearly 3,000 feet in elevation gain, several long stretches of walking during the race, and a new appreciation of how little oxygen is available at 10,000 feet, I finished the race.

I was no longer happy. I was jubilant.

I was also hooked. The 13.1 mile distance was a new plateau. Before the race, I didn't think it was possible, for me, to run that far and for that long. The problem with running longer distances, and the beauty of running longer distances, is that once you reach a new plateau, you start looking for the next one. "You ran a half-marathon? Well you can surely do a full," friends began telling me. Sure enough, I was no longer content with the 5 Ks, or even the half-marathon distance. The 26.2 miles of the marathon had to be tried, and had to be conquered.

Now, after several marathons, I have to ask, "what's next?" A 50 K? A double-marathon? How about a race I cannot finish? Although there are many races I cannot finish, the word in the ultrarunning community is that very few finish a 100-mile race called the Barkley Marathon. As described by Charlie Engle in his Runner's World article, the race is "Brutal. Terrifying. Inhuman. The organizers of the Barkley Marathons don't care what you call the toughest trail-running competition in the world, as long as you don't finish it."

This year's group started the race just after 1:00 in the morning on April 2 and endured over 59,000 feet of elevation climb (and descent) in the Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. Just under 60 hours later, Brett Maune crossed the finish line. Alone.

If you are a runner, or just want to understand why someone would voluntarily sign up for a 100-mile race, be sure to check out Engle's article at Runner's World. You should also see Engle's blog to learn more about this extraordinary runner and his story.

9th Annual Meeting Call for Proposals

2011-03-25T14:47:00.002-04:00

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

9th Annual Meeting of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Proposal Deadline: May 2, 2011

The Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments (HPEE) requests proposals for its 9th Annual Meeting, September 18-19, 2011 at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Registration information, including meeting times and room location, will be announced shortly. The meeting will precede the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting (see www.hfes.org), also at the Red Rock Hotel, Hyatt Regency, September 19-23, 2011.

HPEE defines extreme environments as settings that possess extraordinary physical, psychological, and interpersonal demands that require significant human adaptation for survival and performance. Example settings and domains include spaceflight, high-altitude aviation, mountaineering, polar, desert, and underwater environments. In addition, we address specific occupations and activities occurring in extreme environments such as military operations, police, firefighting, emergency response/disaster management, hazardous materials handling/disposal, search and rescue, emergency medical service, and recreational activities in extreme settings. Submissions addressing one or more of these environments or activities are welcome.

Call for Proposals

Researchers, practitioners working in applied domains, and students are encouraged to submit proposals for lecture, poster, or discussion panel presentations (see descriptions under Presentation Types). Proposals may be empirical-based, theoretical-based, or application-based, as described below. NOTE: Proposals with a clear commercial focus will not be accepted.

Empirical-based proposals should report original research results from experiments or observations and may include conventional experimentation, case studies, meta-analyses, modeling techniques, etc. Empirical-based proposals should include these headings: 1) Introduction, 2) Method, 3) Results, and 4) Discussion.

Theoretical-based proposals should compare and contrast theories in a specific area or offer a unique theoretical perspective on a particular topic. Basic literature reviews that do not offer a comprehensive theoretical comparison or new theoretical contribution are discouraged. Theoretical-based proposals should include these headings: 1) Introduction, 2) Literature Review, 3) Theoretical Comparison (or) New Theoretical Contribution, and 4) Conclusion (or) Discussion.

Application-based proposals should report findings and/or lessons learned from activities in the field (as opposed to laboratory-based investigations) that have applied value to operations in extreme environments. Examples might include lessons identified; analyses/evaluations of equipment, techniques, training programs, or past mishaps and failures; or the introduction of new techniques or training programs to improve performance. Application-based proposals should include these headings: 1) Introduction, 2) Purpose, 3) Findings, and 4) Conclusion (or) Discussion.

Presentation Types

Lecture: Lecture presentations are individual proposals that describe recent empirical, theoretical, or design work on significant HPEE topics. Each presenter is allotted 15 minutes followed by a brief question-answer period.

Poster: Poster presentations are individual proposals that describe recent empirical, theoretical, or design work on significant HPEE topics. In contrast to the traditional lecture presentation, this format offers presenters the unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with attendees in an open, dynamic setting, and allows presenters to provide thoughtful, in-depth responses to questions about their research to a broader audience. Poster presenters are encouraged to make effective use of graphics as well as text. Presenters are asked to be available for questions during a 60-minute period, however, all posters will be displayed for the duration of the conference.

Discussion Panel: A discussion panel provides a unique opportunity for the dynamic exchange of views among panelists and members of the audience on a topic of common interest. NOTE: A discussion panel is not a series of papers as in a lecture session. Rather, this presentation format involves informal discussion on a topic, yet must be structured to offer a high degree of interaction between the panelists and the audience. Brief statements (5-10 minutes) by each panelist are followed by an extended discussion involving the audience and panel members. Maximum of five panelists per panel.

Proposal Submission Process

Authors should submit the following information by midnight, Monday, May 2, 2011:

1. Proposal title

2. Author(s) and current affiliations

3. E-mail and mailing address for presenting author

4. Proposal focus: empirical, theoretical, or application

5. Presentation type: lecture, poster, or discussion panel

6. Abstract (150-word maximum)

7. Summary (2000 word-maximum)

Send the above information in electronic format (Microsoft Word preferred) to society@hpee.org with the subject heading “Meeting Proposal.”

Review and Acceptance Process

Proposals will be reviewed by at least three reviewers for quality, scientific merit, and substance of contribution. Presenters of accepted proposals may publish a proceedings paper of up to five pages (format description sent after proposal acceptance). Because the number of available lecture sessions is limited, authors of favorably reviewed lecture proposals that could not be accommodated in a lecture session may be given the option of presenting their work in a poster session.

Additional Information

For more information about HPEE or the 9th Annual Meeting, please visit the 9th Meeting Page or www.hpee.org or contact Jason Kring at jason.kring@erau.edu or Joseph Crimi at joseph.crimi@gmail.com

25 Years After Challenger's Final Flight

2011-01-29T08:52:00.001-05:00

Twenty five years have passed since the crew of Challenger made their final flight on that cold January morning in 1986. With school kids around the world watching the launch of the first teacher in space, and first civilian, Christa McAuliffe, Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. Much has been written about the disaster, from technical causes focused on the solid rocket booster's O-rings to organizational problems at NASA that were indirectly responsible, and many lessons were learned. As Traci Watson writes in her excellent article for USA Today, the Challenger disaster brought NASA down to Earth. She writes:

"The accident taught NASA much about the vulnerabilities of the shuttle and how to make space travel safer, space specialists say.

However, some lessons from the accident eventually were forgotten, with a major consequence being the loss in 2003 of shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated on re-entry over Texas, killing seven astronauts.

The Challenger accident "was significant, because it set in train a whole set of changes at NASA," says Roger Launius, senior curator in space history at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. But eventually, "a kind of entropy sets in."

That hardly seemed possible in 1986, when the accident plunged NASA into anguished soul-searching. Investigators appointed by Reagan found that NASA repeatedly had ignored serious technical problems. They criticized what they called NASA's "silent safety program" and "flawed" decision-making.

The investigators traced the specific cause of the accident to the shuttle's O-rings, rubbery seals in the two slender rocket boosters that flank the spacecraft. The defective O-rings allowed hot gases and flames to seep out, creating a blowtorch toward the spacecraft.

The investigators' findings led NASA to make a range of upgrades to the shuttle, which made the spacecraft safer — if not exactly safe. But other lessons from the accident continue to hang over the space agency:"

See Watson's full article at USA Today.

Deadliest Job in America?

2010-10-10T21:41:00.002-04:00

Photo from PopularMechanics.com

Going to work for most people is not a matter of life or death. For those working in extreme environments, however, it is a different story. Be it the firefighter entering a burning building or the underwater welder working hundreds of feet below the surface, men and women in extreme occupations are often at significant physical risk. But what is the riskiest of these jobs? A recent article by Kalee Thompson on the Popular Mechanics website notes that commercial fishing is the deadliest job in America. Thompson writes:

"The dangers of commercial fishing are the stuff of modern legend . Fans of the blockbuster book and film The Perfect Storm and popular reality-TV shows like Deadliest Catch and Swords: Life on the Line would hardly be surprised by the fact that nearly every year the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks commercial fishing as America's most lethal job. Adjusted to the size of the workforce, the 2008 fatality rate for U.S. fishermen was five times that of truck drivers, eight times that of police officers and 19 times that of firefighters."

See Thompson's full article at PopularMechanics.com

HPEE's 8th Annual Meeting a Success!

2010-10-03T15:35:00.001-04:00

Meeting Co-Chair Joseph Crimi and
HPEE Vice President Kelley Krokos

HPEE's 8th Annual Meeting was a great success. Thank you to all of the presenters and attendees for making this our largest and best meeting yet! From space to the top of Everest, presentations covered many extreme environments and activities. For example, Jon Shea, of LiveActive, detailed his experience as a guide on an Everest expedition. Dr. Jon Clark provided an exciting overview of high-altitude flight programs and his work with the Red Bull Stratos team. In addition, students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rachael Lund and Anna Vitalis, presented on sleep deprivation in astronauts and ultracyclist legend Robert Kish, respectively.

On Sunday afternoon, a reception and poster session, supported by Lt. Col. James Merlo of the US Military Academy at West Point, brought together students from West Point and the University of Central Florida to present their research.

HPEE Board of Directors Meeting

The HPEE Board of Directors also held their annual meeting. Chair Col. Donald White lead the Board through a number of key votes and discussions about future directions for the Society. Board members Dr. Barrett Caldwell, Ms. Kate Garrick, Lt. Col. James Merlo, Maj. Shannon Phares, and Col. White were joined by HPEE President Dr. Jason Kring, HPEE Vice President Dr. Kelley Krokos, HPEE 8th Meeting Co-Chair Mr. Joseph Crimi, and student volunteer Ms. Jenissa Garcia.

Board members serve three-year terms and there are currently three open positions to fill. HPEE is seeking nominations for these positions. If you would like to nominate yourself or another, send an email to society@hpee.org.

HPEE would also like to again thank our sponsor, Sage Cheshire, Inc., and supporters, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and Human Factors and Systems Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, for helping make this meeting a success.

We look forward to seeing all of you back for the 9th meeting next year in Las Vegas. Check Extreme News in the coming months for the call for proposals and more details on the meeting.

HPEE Annual Meeting Agenda and Update

2010-09-05T21:28:00.103-04:00

The Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments (HPEE) will hold its 8th Annual Meeting, September 26-27, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, California. USA. The meeting will precede the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 54th Annual Meeting also at the Hyatt Regency, September 27 - October 1, 2010.

HPEE thanks Mr. Art Thompson and Sage Cheshire, Inc. for their sponsorship of the meeting. Sage Cheshire is a design, development and fabrication team with over 40 years of experience in Engineering, Design, R & D, prototype and production. Their experience and background has been involved in the aerospace industry supporting engineering, design, fabrication and off-sight testing for aircraft and parts for many ofthe leading aerospace companies.

As prime contractor of the Red Bull Stratos Project, Sage Cheshire's expert team of scientists and engineers are actively involved in the technical phases of development such as Design, Engineering, Analysis, Life Support, and Fabrication, to name a few. The team's innovative technology and world renown staff provide a robust magnitude of experience and expertise to ensure Felix Baumgartner success in his mission to the edge of space.

HPEE also thanks the Human Factors and Systems Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for providing administrative support of this year's meeting and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society for providing meeting space and advertising.

The agenda for the meeting is below. To register and for the latest updates, please visit www.hpee.org and go to the 8th Meeting Page.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 - Pacific Concourse Level - Room O

9:00 - 9:30 Welcome and Introduction

- Jason Kring (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

9:30 - 10:00 Training Teams for Successful Performance in Long-Duration Space Missions

- Judith Orasanu (NASA Ames Research Center)
- Norbert Kraft (SJSUF/NASA Ames Research Center)
- Ute Fischer (Georgia Institute of Technology)
- Yuri Tada (NASA Ames Research Center)
- Lori McDonnell (SJSUF/NASA Ames Research Center)
- Susannah Paletz (Georgia Institute of Technology)

10:30 - 11:00 PRET: A Performance Readiness Evaluation Tool for Assessing the Neurocognitive State of Astronauts

- Mehdi Najjar (Canadian Space Agency)
- Christian Lange (Canadian Space Agency)
- Leena Tomi (Canadian Space Agency)
- Jean-Marc Comtois (Canadian Space Agency)

11:00 - 11:30 A Review of the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Astronauts

- Rachael Lund (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

1:30 - 2:00 The HFACS Method Modified for Use on Historical Case Exploration Studies

- Phillip Scott Wallace (Rocinante Aerospace LLC)

2:00 - 2:30 Advances in the Theoretical Understanding of Stress and Performance Prediction

- Peter Hancock (University of Central Florida)

2:30 - 3:30 The Red Bull Stratos Project and Lessons Learned from other Stratospheric Flight Programs

- Jonathan Clark (National Space and Biomedical Research Institute / Baylor College of Medicine)

4:00 - 6:00 Poster Session and Reception - an informal reception hosted by West Point faculty with posters from students at West Point and the University of Central Florida.

- Approaches to a Meta-Analysis of Human-Robot Trust - Kristin Oleson, Deborah Billings, Vivien Koscis, Jessie Y. C. Chen, and Peter Hancock (University of Central Florida)

Monday, September 27, 2010 - Pacific Concourse Level - Room O

9:00 - 9:30 Designing the Chicken Cage for an Occasional Black Swan: Human Systems Integration and Sneaky Extreme Environments

- Hector Acosta (711th Human Performance Wing, Brooks Air Force, US Air Force)

9:30 - 10:00 Human Factors and the Modernization of the US NOTAM System

- Kelley Krokos (American Institutes for Research)

10:30 - 11:00 The Limits of Human Endurance: Inside the Mind of Ultracycling Legend Robert Kish

- Anna Vitalis (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

11:00 - 11:30 The Physiological Effects of Wearing Chemical Protective Clothing taking Diphenhydramine and Exercising

- Diane Williams (Naval Health Research Center)
- James Andrews (Naval Health Research Center)

1:30 - 2:00 Mountain Guiding: Perspectives from an Extremely Bizarre Profession

- Jon Shea (LiveACTIVE)

2:00 - 2:30 The Potential for Propranolol use to Increase Survival Time during a Disabled Submarine Scenario

- Seth Reini (US Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory)
- David Fothergill (US Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory)
- Heath Gasier (US Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory)
- Wayne Horne (US Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory)

2:30 - 3:00 Air Force Aerospace and Operational Physiology - Past, Present, and Future

- Shannon Phares (Office of the US Air Force Surgeon General)

3:00 - 3:30 The Extreme Environment of the Chilean Miners: What Lessons from Other Environments Can Help? - A Moderated Discussion

- Jason Kring - Moderator (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)

3:30 - 4:00 Framing and Levelling Preparatory Training for Large Force Exercises

- Jonathan Borgvall (Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI)
- Martic Castor (Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI)

4:00 - 5:00 HPEE Business Meeting - Open to all attendees

Kanas on Mars and the Mind

2010-09-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

Dr. Nick Kanas, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and member of HPEE, recently spoke with Denise Chow at Space.com about the psychological challenges of long-duration space missions. In the article, Kanas notes: "We think we understand a lot of the factors that have to do with long-term isolation in space,....But the problem with Mars is that new factors are entering in because of time delays and issues of autonomy. These are novel — it's time to look at what these additional factors mean for a Mars trip."

The article continues:

Kanas has conducted extensive research on the psychological factors that affect crew members aboard the International Space Station and their corresponding mission control personnel on Earth.

Kanas and his team have studied crews that spent four to seven months isolated on the space station. The researchers primarily have looked at four areas: changes in group dynamics, displacement of tension, cultural factors, and the presence or absence of a "third-quarter effect" — an effect of elapsed time that would become apparent just past the midpoint of the mission.

"The bottom line is that we did not find any effects of time," Kanas said. "Statistically, one quarter looked like another quarter."

A third-quarter effect would have been characterized by a dip in morale, an increase in depression or tension. Researchers believe this phenomenon can occur halfway through a mission as a culmination of being in a stressful, isolated environment for so long.

"It's a reaction that leads to a letdown," Kanas explained. "You do something stressful and you get to the halfway point, and then you suddenly realize that you have another half to go. But we didn't find that. We think we didn't find it in our studies because there is a tremendous support network that occurs between the crew members and ground personnel."

Read Chow's full article at Space.com as well as part two of this series.

Astronaut Shares Advice for Chilean Miners

2010-08-26T21:21:00.000-04:00

Jerry Linenger, a former NASA astronaut and one-time occupant of the Russian Mir space station, thinks officials should tell the 33 trapped miners in Chile the truth about how long a rescue may take. Alonso Soto and Irene Klotz, in their Reuters article, write:

"Facing one of the most complex rescue operations ever attempted, Chile is looking to space and the ocean depths for survival tips to help 33 miners endure months underground awaiting rescue.

The miners were found alive on Sunday, 17 days after a cave-in at a small gold and copper mine in Chile's remote north, but it could take up to four months to dig them out, and they have not yet been told the time-frame.

It is already one of the longest periods trapped miners are known to have survived underground.

Having survived a fire and degraded living conditions on the Russian Mir space station in 1997, former NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger knows better than most what they are going through.

"The biggest mistake you could make right now is over-promising," Linenger said. "In my case, knowing that the space shuttle was coming in three months was enough. Psychologically, you need to know the end point."

"The key is to not say it's going to take two months when it's going to take four. You can adjust yourself to the long haul as long as you don't have to make the adjustment twice. You only have so much reserve."

He said the fact they have methodically worked through difficulties, finding water and rationing what little food they had, shows they are already well on the way.

"You just sort of tuck all the other fears and concerns aside and you focus on survival," Linenger said."

See the full article at UK.Reuters.com. Photo credit: NASA.

Chilean Miners Face Extreme Isolation

2010-08-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

For nearly three weeks, 33 men have been trapped in a mine in Chile, and it is estimated a rescue could require another four months. How will these men survive, physically and psychologically? Chilean officials are seeking advice from NASA and other agencies to better understand how prolonged isolation and confinement affects physical and mental health. One major consideration was how the rescue time frame might impact the men. How would they react knowing daylight would not come until December? According to a BBC News report, officials decided to tell the men the truth about the rescue:

"The 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground have been told they may not be rescued for several months, the country's health minister has said.

Jaime Manalich said the miners, trapped 700m below ground since 5 August, had reacted calmly, AFP news agency said.

Officials had delayed breaking the news out of concern for their mental well-being.

A special exercise and recreation programme is being set up to keep the men fit during their long wait. They will also need to be in shape to be pulled up the 66cm (26 inches) wide shaft that is being bored to rescue them.

That may take up to four months to complete.

"We were able to tell them... they would not be rescued before the Fiestas Patrias [Chile's Independence Day on 18 September], and that we hoped to get them out before Christmas," AFP quoted Mr Manalich as saying.

Although they took the news calmly, he said, "a period of depression, anguish and severe malaise" was possible."

For more on this story, see the full article at BBC News.com. Image credit: BBC News.

Can a Week in the Wilderness Save our Brains?

2010-08-17T20:27:00.000-04:00

When was the last time you took a vacation...from technology? With the Internet, smart phones, laptops and netbooks, and Wi-Fi in coffee shops, hotels, and in some city parks, we can stay "connected" 24 hours a day, but should we? A group of neuroscientists recently wondered how technology, particularly the breaks in attention brought on by interruptions from e-mail, text messaging, and surfing the Web, is affecting our cognitive processes. The group also wondered what a week of hiking and camping, with no cell-phone or Internet access, would do to their minds. Matt Richtel, in his article from the New York Times, described their experience:

"Todd Braver emerges from a tent nestled against the canyon wall. He has a slight tan, except for a slim pale band around his wrist.

For the first time in three days in the wilderness, Mr. Braver is not wearing his watch. “I forgot,” he says.

It is a small thing, the kind of change many vacationers notice in themselves as they unwind and lose track of time. But for Mr. Braver and his companions, these moments lead to a question: What is happening to our brains?

Mr. Braver, a psychology professor at Washington University in St. Louis, was one of five neuroscientists on an unusual journey. They spent a week in late May in this remote area of southern Utah, rafting the San Juan River, camping on the soft banks and hiking the tributary canyons. It was a primitive trip with a sophisticated goal: to understand how heavy use of digital devices and other technology changes how we think and behave, and how a retreat into nature might reverse those effects."

See Richtel's full article at NYTimes.com.

R2 Heading to ISS

2010-08-15T23:56:00.003-04:00

Crews aboard the International Space Station will have an extra set of hands this fall as Robonaut 2, or R2, gets ready to launch aboard Discovery in November. As Denise Chow explains in her article at Space.com, R2 will also "tweet" back to Earth:

"It will be the first human-like robot to become a permanent resident at the space station. The robot even has its own Twitter account (@AstroRobonaut) where its human handlers are posting updates for the automaton's mission.

"Just powered down for the last time. Next time I power up will be on the ISS!" the R2 unit's handlers wrote for the robot Friday.

The dextrous robot resembles a human and is specifically designed to operate like one. It consists of a head and torso with two arms and two five-fingered hands. Advanced control and sensor technologies allow R2 to operate as an assistant to the station astronauts."

For more on the first human-shaped "droid" in space, see Chow's full article at Space.com or R2's own site at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Photo from http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/default.asp

Are Marathons Too Short?

2010-08-14T04:57:00.000-04:00

Humans continue to push the boundaries of what is physically and mentally possible, going higher, deeper, faster, and further. But could it be that running a marathon, 26.2 miles (42.2 km) has become too common, too easy? A recent post by Andy Bowen, from his blog site Ultra Marathon Running, discusses how "Ultra Marathons are the new Marathons." Bowen writes:

"So what is the reason for more people wanting to have a go at ultras? I think the reasons are twofold. Firstly, whilst awareness of ultras is still far from the mainstream, with the likes of the “and Finally” sections of the TV Sports News, and coverage in the running press such as Runners World, it is certainly now in the vocabulary of most runners. When I was growing up the concept of running beyond 26.2 miles was reserved for the superhuman, and considered to be “bad for you”. This is not the case today.

Secondly and what I believe to be the main causative factor, is that whilst completing a Marathon is still a significant challenge, it not that uncommon to have completed one. I read in a recent survey that the main reason that anyone runs in a marathon is to “Challenge yourself”, but it would seem that a marathon is not challenge enough.

It comes down to the human psyche, and whilst we want to challenge ourselves, there are a large number of us who need that challenge to be relative to everyone else’s achievements. So while a running a Marathon is a significant achievement, if everyone’s completed the distance, it doesn’t really stand out as such an achievement, and to enter one isn’t seen as such a significant challenge."

See Bowen's full post at his site Ultra Marathon Running.

Extreme Skier Dies on K2 Summit Attempt

2010-08-07T12:12:00.003-04:00

Frederik Ericcson, a skier and mountaineer from Sweden, died Friday while attempting to summit K2, the world's second tallest peak. As reported by the CNN wire staff:

"The incident occurred between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. as Ericsson was attempting to become the first man to ski from the summit to base camp, said (Ericcson's friend David) Schipper, who said he learned of the accident on the world's second-tallest peak in a satellite call from fellow climber Fabrizio Zangrilli."

For more on this tragedy, see the full article at CNN.com or visit Ericcson's website at www.fredrikericsson.com.

Landing on an Asteroid by 2025? Obama's Plan Raises Questions

2010-06-23T11:57:00.001-04:00

President Obama's vision for NASA moved the space agency away from a return to the Moon to a smaller, more distant destination: a deep space asteroid. As reported by Traci Watson in a USA Today cover story, scientists and space advocates are wondering if such a mission is possible. Watson writes:

Millions of miles from Earth, two astronauts hover weightlessly next to a giant space rock, selecting pebbles for scientific research. The spaceship where they'll sleep floats just overhead. Beyond it, barely visible in the sky, is a glittering speck. It's Earth.

It sounds like a science-fiction movie, but this surreal scene could, if President Obama has his way, become a reality. However, unlike Hollywood depictions in such movies as Armageddon, it's going to be a lot harder to pull off.

Almost 50 years after President Kennedy proposed sending a man to the moon "before this decade is out," Obama has set an equally improbable goal. He has proposed a 2025 date for NASA to land humans on an asteroid, a ball of rock hurtling around the sun.

Read Watson's full article at USAToday.com. Picture credit: Robert Ahrens, USA Today.

HPEE Member Crimi and Embry-Riddle Students Win Runway Safety Competition

2010-06-21T10:53:00.002-04:00

A team of graduate students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, including HPEE member and Annual Meeting Co-Chair Joseph Crimi, took first place in a runway safety design competition sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration. As noted in the press release by Mary Van Buren:

"The 57-page winning proposal, titled “Pilot-Controlled Alert Lighting System (Air PALS),” was submitted by Human Factors graduate students Maria Appel, Joe Crimi, Steve Dorton, Hilary Greenfield, Robert Malony, Allison Popola, Brian Potter, and Software Engineering graduate student Il Hwan Lee.

Air PALS consists of a radio control box installed in line with existing radio control boxes configured for a pilot-controlled lighting (PCL) system and existing runway edge lights. The Air PALS system is programmed to operate on the same common frequency as the PCL system. When activated by a landing pilot clicking their radio, the alert lighting system flashes, signaling the intended occupancy of the runway to all aircraft operating within eyesight of the runway.

“The team’s design submission was the culmination of four months of intense work,” said the team’s advisor, Embry-Riddle Human Factors professor Dr. Kelly Neville. “The process included research, field work, brainstorming, problem solving, designing, assessing, diagramming, documenting – and exemplary teamwork.”

For more, see the full press release here.

HPEE 8th Annual Meeting Update

2010-06-12T09:09:00.011-04:00

The following individuals are scheduled to present at HPEE's 8th Annual Meeting this fall, September 26-27, 2010, in San Francisco, CA. The HPEE Officers are still developing the agenda so check back for updates in the coming weeks.

Scheduled to Present:

Jonathan Borgvall and Martin Castor, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI -"Framing and Levelling Preparatory Training for Large Force Exercises"

Peter Hancock, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida - "Advances in the Theoretical Understanding of Stress and Performance Prediction"

Mehdi Najjar, Christian Lange, Leena Tomi, and Jean-Marc Comtois, Space Exploration Branch, Canadian Space Agency - "PRET: A Performance Readiness Evaluation Tool for Assessing the Neurocognitive State of Astronauts"

Judith Orasanu, Norbert Kraft, Ute Fischer, Yuri Tada, Lori McDonnell, and Susannah Paletz, NASA Ames Research Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Pittsburgh - "Training Teams for Successful Performance in Long-Duration Space Missions"

Seth Reini, David Fothergill, Heath Gasier, and Wayne Horn, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory - "The Potential for Propranolol use to Increase Survival Time during a Disabled Submarine Scenario"

John Shea, LiveACTIVE - "High-Altitude Mountaineering"

Christopher Steele, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - "Predictions of Fatigue-related Decrements in Cognitive Performance"

Phillip Scott Wallace, Rocinante Aerospace LLC - "The HFACS Method Modified for Use on Historical Case Exploration Studies"

Diane Williams and James Andrews, Naval Health Research Center - "The Physiological Effects of Wearing Chemical Protective Clothing taking Diphenhydramine and Exercising"

A poster session is also scheduled for Sunday evening and will include presentations from students from the United States Military Academy at West Point and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

For registration information, visit the 8th Meeting Page. If you are interested in sponsoring this meeting, HPEE has several sponsorship options, starting at $100, described at our sponsorship page.

Solo Sailor Found Adrift in Indian Ocean

2010-06-11T09:47:00.002-04:00

Sailing solo on the open ocean for an extended period of time is a tremendous challenge, both physically and mentally. With constantly changing weather and water conditions, periods of boredom, and isolation from others, solo sailing is extreme. Now consider sailing around the world, by yourself, at the age of 16. Abby Sunderland is attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world solo, beating a record set by her brother last year.

Yet, the extreme environment of the seas almost took her life recently. As reported by numerous news sites, Sunderland was found alive and adrift in the Indian Ocean by a search plane after nearly a day of no contact with her. Details about why she lost contact are still emerging but it appears severe weather may be to blame. According to a post on Sunderland's blog by her parents:

"We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!

We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know."

For more on Sunderland's voyage and her recent setback, see her blog site at soloround.blogspot.com or visit her full site at AbbySunderland.com. Photo credit: Abby Sunderland from her website.