The Effect on Subjective Alertness and Fatigue of Three Colour Temperatures in the Spacecraft Crew Cabin

Abstract

The lighting system is one of the key subsystems in the spacecraft. A good lighting environment is needed not only for operations, but also for the astronauts’ leisure. In particular, it can reduce visual fatigue, improve work efficiency and safety, and be calibrated to optimise energy consumption. This study used the Minnesota Clerical Test to analyse the work efficiency and fatigue of 18 mixed-gender test participants from China inside a simulated cabin of the International Space Station (ISS) under lighting in three different colour temperatures. The results show that under local lighting conditions with a colour temperature of 4500 K, fatigue was the lowest, the participants’ satisfaction was higher, work efficiency was the highest, and the environment gave the participants a bright and relaxed feeling. A colour temperature of 2700 K was conducive to short-term office scenes, but during long-term work, it made people feel tired. Finally, a colour temperature of 7500 K got the participants excited, but long working hours made them feel uncomfortable. Therefore, further study is needed to investigate the impact of different types of lighting on efficiency.