To become an astronaut, a person must already possess an arsenal of grit. After all, if there’s a misstep during a spacewalk, a difficult assignment (like controlling the space station’s large robotic arm), or, perhaps, an unplanned half-year-long extension of an orbital assignment — like what Starliner’s crew experienced this summer — an astronaut must adapt. Still, outer space can push even the most mentally tough person’s limits.
That’s where Anna Morgenthaler, an operational psychologist who works at NASA in its behavioral health and performance group, comes in. An operational psychologist is one who works with professionals in high-risk positions, including those who live and work on the International Space Station (ISS).
