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Experts mull effects of astronaut career on emotional health

From the dawn of the US space program, astronauts have been treated like heroes and indoctrinated in NASA's can-do, failure-is-not-an-option ethos.

Could that explain the downfall of Lisa Nowak, the astronaut accused of attempted murder?

Experts say the same traits that make astronauts such high achievers can combine to aggravate emotional problems and strain relationships.

"I really believe that NASA goes overboard in promoting how heroic and super all these people are," said Patricia Santy, a former NASA psychiatrist and author of the book Choosing the Right Stuff.

Santy said the astronaut corps is "like a family, but it's almost like a dysfunctional family when it comes to understanding that these interpersonal issues have profound impacts."

Former astronaut Jerry Linenger said astronauts take pride in self-discipline, "and you set a goal and it's just going, going, going and you let nothing get in your way."

That reminds Linenger of Nowak's drive from Houston to Orlando, Florida, to confront an Air Force captain who she allegedly believed was involved with the space shuttle pilot she loved.

However, Linenger said, that's when Nowak's training should have kicked in and led her to reflect on her actions: "To not make a midcourse correction is scary. It's just off her training and everything else."

"The biggest problem that every astronaut has had once they've obtained their goal is: `What do I do next, what do I focus on?'" said Jay Barbree, a longtime NBC correspondent.

Among earlier astronauts, "most every one of them came back had adjustment issues," Barbree said.

NASA flight crew operations chief Ellen Ochoa said the agency is considering whether to do more to look after astronauts once they return from space.

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step on the moon, later became depressed and had problems with alcohol.

Aldrin said there is no good system to support astronauts after their spaceflight days are over: "Nobody is helping them readjust."
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