Project Argus: Prolonged Isolation Study by the U.S. Navy, 1962

February 5, 2021

Background

According to one of the documents below, the following best describes Project Argus:

The Navy has long been aware that prolonged isolation and confinement of men in relatively small vehicles or habitats can have undesirable effects – not only on their social-emotional well-being, but also on their performance effectiveness. Thus, to study the problem , the Navy established Project ARGUS (Advanced Research on Groups Under Stress) at the Naval Medical Research Institute in 1962. Initial funding was provided by the Office of Special Projects.

The immediate objectives of Project ARGUS were to build a body of scientific knowledge regarding the effects of isolation and confinement, the nature of individual differences in tolerating such stresses , and the effects of various techniques used to minimize any impairment of psychological functioning resulting from them . The long -range goal of the program was to provide a base of knowledge which would aid in developing improved vehicle design criteria , selection and training procedures, and crew management techniques . Also, this knowledge would contribute to the development of advanced sea -based deterrent systems, deep submergence systems, man – in -the -sea habitats such as Sealab, manned spacecraft , etc.

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This program was discovered when The Black Vault filed a FOIA request for records relating to OPERATION Argus, a study that conducted three high-altitude nuclear tests in the south Atlantic Ocean. However, the response from the U.S. Navy in 2015, revealed this isolation study, known as PROJECT ARGUS.

Those documents collected about this program, are below.