Danny Jones Podcast #328 - NASA Space Psychologist: What Astronauts Really See in Upper Orbit | Iya Whiteley
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Sep 1, 2025 Iya Whiteley, a space psychologist and director at the Centre for Space Medicine, shares fascinating insights about the psychological challenges astronauts face. She discusses the potential of telepathy for communication in space and how cognitive engineering enhances pilot performance. The conversation also delves into the extraordinary abilities of children, the emotional strain on high-stakes professionals, and the importance of nurturing curiosity in both children and adults. Iya’s work blends science and creativity, even extending to designing engaging baby books!
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Situational Awareness As A Trained Skill
- Situational awareness is a continuous, anticipatory bubble of information pilots and astronauts maintain to stay 'ahead' of the system.
- Training like martial arts and meditation builds the focused, present-moment attention required for critical decision-making.
Train Focused Awareness, Not Just Procedures
- Train people to respond from the present moment by practicing focused awareness in realistic tasks rather than relying solely on conceptual instruction.
- Use exercises that build body-based sensing so operators can act from perception, not abstract rules.
Learning To Speak Pilot Language
- Iya worked with the Australian Air Force on Hercules cockpit changes and discovered automation couldn't substitute the crew's anticipatory teamwork.
- She learned to fly to speak pilots' language and successfully translate their needs into cockpit design.
