Astronauts Wilmore and Williams expected to spend five days on the International Space Station (ISS) That was in June. They’re still stuck in space and may remain until February. What’s the effect on them? Waiting slows our perception of time, because it changes the amount of time that we spend thinking about time.
According to The Conversation, “In coming days, Nasa and Boeing may decide to clear Starliner to carry the astronauts back to Earth. This means their stay might not last too much longer. But if officials decide against Starliner, the astronauts face waiting an additional six months in orbit before returning. So how do astronauts cope with a potential six-month wait for a lift home? Waiting is frustrating, stressful and anxiety-provoking under normal circumstances. But in extreme situations, with high stakes, waiting can be purgatory.
As academics who research the effects of time on human psychology and biology, our ongoing work with crew members at research stations in Antarctica aims to shed light on whether waiting in extreme environments is different to waiting during normal daily life.
According to Live Science, “In general, time filled with activity passes more quickly. We all got a taste of this during COVID lockdowns. When we were stuck inside unable to see friends and engage in normal daily activities, the loss of routine and distractions caused time to drag for many.”
Waiting can slow our perception of time. Normal life is full of ever-changing activities and interactions. In general, time filled with activity seems to pass more quickly. The sudden need to wait halts the flow of life, often leaving us with nothing else to do but think about time passing, thus increasing levels of boredom and frustration.
A key factor in the Astronauts’ wait may be their ability to tolerate the uncertainty of when they will return. Wilmore and Williams will spend their time in a space equivalent to the inside a Boeing 747 plane. But better information about “when” things will happen and “why” delays are being incurred can help people to tolerate waiting and reduce its impact on their wellbeing.
“Time doesn’t stop.” We all say (and feel) this and yet we hardly ever stop to think about the meaning of time and its passage. Time is one of those deeply stirring topics, the kind we tend to push aside and prefer to forget. After all, to think about time and how fast it passes leads quickly to thoughts about death. This is the essence of the human predicament, to have awareness of the passage of time, to know that our days on this planet and in this life are finite. The Big Think
