About the Journal

AIMS AND SCOPE

The Analog Astronaut™ Research Journal (AARJ) serves as a global platform connecting the scientific, technological, and humanistic aspects of space exploration. Grounded in rigorous research and inspired by the drive to explore, AARJ focuses on how analog environments prepare humanity for extraterrestrial challenges while enhancing our understanding of life on Earth.

AARJ encourages interdisciplinary research and innovative ideas, inviting contributions in areas such as:

Mission Design and Human Experience: Insights into planning and executing analog missions, emphasizing psychological resilience, team dynamics, and the personal growth of participants.

Human Adaptation: Studies on cognitive, physical, and emotional performance in extreme environments, exploring human endurance and creativity.

Sustainable Systems: Research on habitat design, resource management, and closed-loop living systems with lessons for both space and Earth sustainability.

Technological Innovation: Development and testing of robotics, wearables, tools, and communication systems that merge cutting-edge technology with practical application.

Field Science: Advances in geology, biology, and planetary science conducted in terrestrial analogues simulating otherworldly landscapes.

Cultural and Philosophical Exploration: How analog missions inspire creativity, influence cultural narratives, and reshape perceptions of exploration.

Education and Outreach: Projects that use analog missions to engage the public, democratize space knowledge, and inspire future explorers.

Law and Ethics in Space Analogs: How analog missions raise complex legal and ethical questions about autonomy, authority, privacy, and consent in isolated environments, providing a testing ground for policies that could shape governance, responsibility, and human rights beyond Earth. 

 

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

AARJ follows an anonymized review process. The submitted article will be assessed by the editorial board for suitability and completeness of publication in AARJ. If deemed suitable, your submitted article will be sent to a minimum of 2 independent reviewers chosen by the editor who are experts in the related field for assessment of scientific quality. 

The reviewers will provide an assessment of the manuscript to the editor, deeming if the article is: 1) suitable for publication with no revision and thus accepted, 2) potentially suitable for publication if certain revisions are made and thus requiring a resubmission, or 3) not suitable for publication and thus rejected. The editor will make the final decision for acceptance, resubmission with revisions, or rejection of the manuscript, and the editor will then send a decision email to the authors with reviewers’ comments. Reviewers’ comments will remain anonymous. For resubmissions requiring revisions, the editor’s email will include a request to address reviewers’ comments for reconsideration of manuscript acceptance and will be considered a resubmission if authors address the comments. Resubmission will be sent to the original reviewers, unless they have opted out of further participation. Reviewers will then evaluate if comments have been sufficiently addressed and send their evaluations to the editor. The editor will make the final decision on acceptance of the article, and will inform both the authors and reviewers of the final decision on the article. 

Authors can request one appeal per submission to the editorial board and the appeal decision will be final.

Once the article is accepted, it will be sent to production.

 

ARTICLE TYPES

The following are article types to be published in AARJ.

• Original research articles. These are detailed studies presenting novel research findings in space analog research and are to be 4,000–8,000 words in length (not including figure legends and references). These are subject to full peer review.
• Review articles. All review articles are to be comprehensive overviews of specific topics of high interest in space analog research. These are to be 4,000–8,000 words in length (not including figure legends and references). In addition to providing summaries of important scientific developments and ideas, the review should discuss future developments in this area and author insights. The prospective author should be a recognized expert in the field of topic discussed. Review articles are subject to full peer review as original research articles.
• Short communications (preprint). These are brief reports on significant preliminary findings or observations limited in scope in space analog research. These are limited to 1,500–3,000 words (not including figure legends and references) and contain a short abstract, main body not divided into headings, references, and only 1 figure or table. Abstract is limited to 100 words and references limited to 15 total.
• Case studies. Case studies are analyses of specific space analog environments or missions and are 2,000–4,000 words in length.
• Technical notes. These are descriptions of new methods, tools, or techniques of high value to space analog research and are limited to 1,500–3,000 words.
• Perspective or opinion pieces. These are letters to the editors that contain thought-provoking commentary on trends, challenges, or opportunities in space analog research and are limited to 1,000–2,000 words in length.
• Editorials. Written by the editors on topics of high interest in space analog research.
• Conference proceedings. These are summaries of presentations and new information from conferences relating to space analog research.

 

OPEN ACCESS

The Analog Astronaut™ Research Journal is open access for all. See copyright information for details.

To maintain open access for all, once a manuscript has been accepted a publishing fee of $100 will be charged to the submitter.