Episode 335: NASA Beyond Rockets: The Psychology of Spaceflight with Al Holland

In this episode of Future Tech, filmmaker Jason Sherman speaks with Al Holland, NASA’s longtime senior operational psychologist, about the human systems behind spaceflight. Holland helped shape how astronauts are selected, trained, and supported for long-duration missions, including the International Space Station and future missions to Mars. Drawing from decades of experience at NASA, Holland discusses how astronauts were selected and trained for long-duration missions, why teamwork and self-regulation matter as much as technical skill, and how isolation, sleep disruption, and separation from family quietly shape performance in space. He also reflects on early astronaut training at places like the Johnsville Centrifuge and how lessons from Cold War research continue to influence modern missions to the International Space Station and future journeys to Mars. This conversation is part of the ongoing research and storytelling behind the documentary “Before the Moon”, which explores the hidden places, people, and systems that made human spaceflight possible.