The people who will live on the International Space Station or fly to Mars will need help managing the stresses of long-term space flight, says a UC Davis social psychologist. Since the first forays into space 40 years ago, NASA has played down psychological and interpersonal issues, says Professor Albert Harrison in his new book, "Spacefaring: The Human Dimension." "Although always with us, these problems have become less easy to dismiss following recent experiences on the Russian space station Mir," Harrison says. He believes fear of bad publicity discourages NASA from conducting comprehensive psychological research. "Psychological factors are crucial: You've got people living cooped up for months at a time, cut off from their homes and living under Spartan conditions," he says. "Sure, spacefarers are tough and capable, but we need to improve their living conditions, pay more attention to their professional and cultural diversity, and give them more control over their daily activities in space." "Spacefaring" discusses life support, habitability, crew selection and training, coping with stress, group dynamics, accidents, off-duty activities, space tourism, space settlements and interstellar travel. Published by University of California Press, the book also describes the organizational and political contexts that shape human progress in space. For 20 years Harrison has studied the psychology of space exploration, including the search for life beyond Earth. His earlier books include "From Antarctica to Outer Space: Life in Isolation and Confinement" (1991) and "After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life" (1997).