Colour schemes to reduce stress response in the hygiene area of a space station: A Delphi study

This paper aims to explore colour schemes to reduce stress response in the hygiene area of a space station. We conducted a two-stage exploratory Delphi-study with 30 international experts. It was found that the overall environment, stool-urine collection device, garbage collection interface and negative pressure package interface of the hygiene area most affected astronauts’ experience. Remarkably, experts have highest visual requirements for the cleanliness of the overall environment and for stool and urine collection devices in the hygiene area. These tend to have low saturation and low blackness colours, while the garbage collection interface and negative pressure package interface have conspicuity and discernibility visual requirements. It was found that experts tend to choose high saturation and high brightness colours. •30 international experts assessed the colour scheme to reduce the stress response in the hygiene area of a space station.•Low-saturation and low-blackness colours need to be applied to the overall environment, Stool and urine collection device.•The garbage collection and negative pressure packaging interface need to adopt high saturation and high brightness colours.