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Cassie Hilditch receives the 2023 William E. Collins Award for her paper on pilot fatigue during COVID-19

In May 2023, Cassie Hilditch, from NASA's Human Systems Integration Division, was awarded the 2023 William E. Collins Award, which is presented to the author of the "Outstanding Human Factors Publication of the Year" by the Aerospace Medical Association. The prestigious award was given for the 2022 paper titled "Fatigue, Schedules, Sleep, and Sleepiness in U.S. Commercial Pilots During COVID-19 ", which describes the wide-ranging impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on commercial pilot fatigue and sleepiness.

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NASA's Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans Interviewed by CNN to Discuss the Sleep Challenges Faced by Astronauts on a Mission to Mars


In May 2023, NASA’s Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans was interviewed for a Cable News Network (CNN) article to discuss one of the main challenges that astronauts will face during a prolonged mission to Mars. How will NASA ensure that astronauts are getting enough sleep?

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NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory publishes results of a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on U.S commercial pilots


The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation industry. While reduced flying capacity may intuitively translate to reduced fatigue risk by way of fewer flights and less time in the cockpit, the actual impact of the pandemic on pilot fatigue is still not clear. In order to better understand some of these impacts, researchers from NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory surveyed US commercial airline pilots in late 2020 and early 2021 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on pilot schedules and fatigue during the pandemic.

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NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory hosted the Biomathematical Performance and Schedule Modeling for Spaceflight Operations Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM)


The Biomathematical Performance and Schedule Modeling for Spaceflight Operations Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) occurred on September 28-29, 2021. This meeting was led by Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans and the Human Systems Integration Division's Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory at the NASA Ames Research Center with support provided by members of the JSC Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory.

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NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory Publishes Report on the Risks of Sleepiness and Automated Driving Systems


NASA Fatigue Countermeasures researchers have published a scientific report detailing the potential risks arising from sleepiness and the use of automated (self-driving) vehicles.

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NASA PVT+ App now available on the Apple App Store


A new app called NASA PVT+ is now available on the Apple App Store. The app helps researchers study what’s going on in the body when fatigue prevents you from working safely - and which telltale signs can alert you to potential problems.

> Go to the PVT+ page

Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans interviewed by BMJ Podcast

In April, 2019, Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans was interviewed on a BMJ podcast episode called "Surviving the Night Shift" to discuss how best practices for fatigue risk management in aviation and spaceflight can be applied to help medical doctors stay alert during night shifts. The podcast episode covers a number of topics relating to fatigue, alertness and performance, particularly with doctors who are new to the night shift. Listen to the podcast to learn more about why nights shifts affect your brain, how astronauts might cope with the time difference on Mars, and the power of frozen grapes when you need a boost. During the segment, Dr. Flynn-Evans talks about the challenges that will be faced by astronauts on extended duration missions to the moon and Mars. Dr. Flynn-Evans is the Principal Investigator of the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory in the Human Systems Integration Division.

> Go to the BMJ Podcast

Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans presents keynote lecture at the Inland Northwest Research Symposium at WSU Spokane


In April 2018, Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans presented the keynote lecture at the Inland Northwest Research Symposium at WSU Spokane. During her talk, Dr. Flynn-Evans paints a vivid picture of the “trials and tribulations of sleeping in space”. Astronauts face incredible workload demands and environmental factors that negatively affect fatigue levels and ultimately increase the likelihood of fatigue-related accidents. She went on to explain the solutions being researched at the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center. The corresponding article at the WSU Insider includes additional quotes from Dr. Flynn-Evans and a brief glimpse into some of her research. Dr. Flynn-Evans is the Principal Investigator of the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory in the Human Systems Integration Division.

> Go to the Washington State University article

"Astronauts struggle to sleep among the stars"

CNN visited Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans at NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory to discuss how astronauts sleep in space. As part of a four-part series on the science of sleep, CNN toured the lab and explored the tests that Dr. Flynn-Evans uses in her fatigue experiments. Through research such as Dr. Flynn-Evans' studies on circadian misalignment and sleep cycles during spaceflight, some light is shed on how the same themes impact everyday people. Shift workers such as doctors, pilots and police officers may face the same fatigue-related issues and the impairment that comes with it. The story, titled "Astronauts struggle to sleep among the stars", will be airing on CNN for one week starting June 1, 2017.

> Go to the cnn.com article

"Why scheduling naps is one of NASA’s most important jobs"

Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans was interviewed for a Washington Post article titled "Why scheduling naps is one of NASA's most important jobs" (published 10/3/2016). For this article, Dr. Flynn-Evans explained the challenges experienced by astronauts who are sleeping in the weightless environments and provided an overview of her research and techniques to improve the circadian rhythms of astronauts.

> Go to the Washinton Post article

A NASA Psychologist on the "Pervasive" Use of Sleep-Aids Among Astronauts


Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory Director, Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans, talks about sleep, circadian rhythm, and fatigue with the website Van Winkle's.

> Go to Van Winkle's article

5 Scientific Reasons You Should Go On Vacation


Kevin Gregory, Senior Researcher for San Jose State University Research Foundation at NASA Ames Research Center, weighs in on the benefits vacations can have on sleep.

> Go to Oprah.com Article

How Airline Pilots Beat Jet Lag

Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory Director, Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans, discusses jet lag, fatigue countermeasure strategies, and more with BBC.

> Go to BBC.com Article

Best Practices for Managing Fatigue in Non-Traditional Shiftwork


Dr. Flynn-Evans provides an hour-long webinar describing basic sleep and circadian physiology and how this information can be applied to schedules that do not conform to traditional shift design.

> Go to the webinar on fatigue

NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast

Dr. Flynn-Evans spoke about sleep and circadian rhythms in space and among airline pilots and described how her research can be applied to the real world

> Go to the Sleep Podcast

How to Spend Six Months in Space without Losing your Mind


Dr. Flynn-Evans talks with WAAY TV about the importance of sleep in space.

> Go to the WAAY TV article

PBS to Feature Ames Fatigue Researcher in Conversation with International Space Station (ISS) Astronaut


Dr. Flynn-Evans talked with astronaut Suni Williams and Joe Cross for a documentary on the importance of sleep in health and performance.

Image of Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans with astronaut Suni Wiliiams and Joe Cross of PBS.
Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans with astronaut Suni Wiliiams and Joe Cross of PBS

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Fatigue Countermeasures Researchers Talk to documentary Filmmaker Alexandra Ranz.

Dr. Flynn-Evans and Dr. Cravalho spoke with documentary filmmaker Alexandra Ranz about the challenges associated with sleeping in space as part of a documentary that will be aired in conjunction with the flight of French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
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Curator: Phil So
NASA Official: Erin Flynn-Evans
Last Updated: May 26, 2023