2016/11/16

The Conversation November 15, 2016: Why CSI: Space will be a far greater challenge than forensic science on Earth

At the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation centre, NASA has just concluded the latest year-long study into the effects of long-term isolation in space. The research is primarily focused on examining psychological and psycho-social factors that will help NASA draw up the highly effective teams needed for long-duration space exploration missions. And among the behaviours studied is how aggression and violence might arise among space crews during long space voyages.

Crime and punishment are among the oldest problems faced by mankind. Immoral or illegal conduct has been a fixture in human history from the dawn of civilisation to the space age we live in today. It’s inevitable that it will at some point become an issue in space, so it’s important to be prepared for the eventuality. The question is how, or whether, terrestrial methods of inflicting violence can be used in space, and if so, whether terrestrial methods of criminal investigation are up to the job.

It’s thought that it is possible to fire handguns in space, and of course sharp stabbing or cutting weapons would work as they do on Earth, as would poisoning or attacks with bare hands. Astronauts have carried weapons on board space vessels since humanity first ventured into space.

There’s also the risk of tampering with or sabotage of the highly sensitive personal life support equipment and living quarters, laboratory and observatory facilities on board spacecraft. The survival of any spacecraft crew depends entirely on maintaining a habitable environment – if for some reason the cabin should depressurise, the astronauts’ blood would boil and turn to a gas. Malfunctions are not unheard of either – water leaks inside astronaut’s suits while outside the spacecraft have occurred on more than one occasion, and could have been fatal. more