Diversifying the concept of analogue missions to explore and evaluate new concepts for future space missions

A range of analogue space missions has been successful in exploring the psychological impact of confinement, analysing team dynamics during long-term isolation, performing biomedical research, developing food strategies, testing space suit simulators, and investigating human-robot interactions. In this presentation, we compare three different environments that use sustainability and/or artistic practices that provide possibilities to expand and diversify the concept of analogue missions. This presentation uses a literature review and observations to identify possibilities for reciprocal learning and collaboration between currently run analogue space missions and the following three projects, in which the author team has been involved in as a participant or as a researcher: a) ecovillages, b) virtual futuristic space mission workshops called CTIM, c) a community developed art installation called Seeker. The relevance of this comparative exercise comes from the fact that all these scenarios inquire into how to create conditions for the sustenance of human and non-human life in adverse environments: disrupted terrestrial ecosystems and the life-threatening conditions of outer space. The scenarios explored by ecovillages, Seeker, and CTIM can provide complimentary perspectives and inform discussions on how to prepare for different aspects of short term or long-term future space missions.