Distributed Space Team Coordination: An Agent-based Modeling and Simulation Approach

Space missions present unique challenges for teams, requiring effective communication, coordination, and cooperation under stress and physical strain. As humans venture further into space, communication latency becomes a significant challenge, with delays ranging from seconds to minutes. This latency affects team performance and cognitive load, whether the team consists of humans, machines, or both. Shared mental models can help manage these delays, but the lack of “shared context” due to varied physical environments can impede their development. Extensive astronaut training, lasting 5 to 10 years, makes realistic simulation of space tasks challenging for study participants. Using an Agent-Based Model (ABM) and a scenario built from interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), this study simulates complex interactions and coordination challenges in space teaming, addressing the complexities and dynamic nature of space missions.