LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES IN-SPACE - A SURVEY OF ASTRONAUTS AND COSMONAUTS

Questionnaires were returned from 54 astronauts and cosmonauts which a ddressed preferences for media and media-generated subjects that could be used to occupy leisure time in space. Ninety-three percent of the respondents had access to records or audio cassettes, and cosmonauts h ad greater access than astronauts to multiple media. Cosmonauts and lo ng-duration space travelers reported that they missed various media mo re than their astronaut and short-duration counterparts. Media subject s that related to international events, national events and historical topics were rated as most preferable by all respondents and by severa l of the respondent groups. The findings are discussed in terms of the ir relevance for occupying free time during future long-duration manne d space missions.