Applying ergonomics for beyond the earth: Integrating participatory ergonomic design for sending a human to space

BACKGROUND: The aviation industry is a complex socio-technical system that has various parts which can be optimized by human factors and ergonomics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide insight into the collaborative ergonomic design process for an astronaut workstation within a small spaceship. METHODS: Having defined the project goals and other quantitative information such as anthropometric dimensions, the Catia software was then used for 3D modeling. Following the initial modeling, the RULA method was used to conduct the initial ergonomic analysis. Following the creation of a simple product prototype, other ergonomic analyses such as mental workload, perceived physical exertion, and usability were carried out. RESULTS: The results of the preliminary ergonomic analysis indicated that the RULA score was acceptable (the final scores were 2 and 3 for the nearest and the farthest controls). Furthermore, the secondary ergonomic analyses were all satisfactory. The mental workload, SUS, and Borg scores for Bedford were, respectively, 2.2, 85.1, and 11.4. CONCLUSION: The proposed product initially received an acceptable ergonomic store; nevertheless, in order to continue producing this product, ergonomic concerns must be taken into consideration.