Space exploration demands rigorous preparation to address the physical, psychological, and operational challenges of missions. Space analogs play a critical role in replicating mission conditions, offering valuable insights for astronaut training and mission planning. This paper presents a protocol designed to assess team dynamics, decision-making and task performance under communication delays, while exploring the benefits of improving interface design. The protocol, based on prior recommendations on text-based communication tools, was tested in a small-scale pilot study. The results show that communication delays increased errors and psychological stress, leading to poorer decision-making and task performance compared to real-time communication. Furthermore, the differences in performance illustrate how communication delays hinder the ability to process and respond to alerts in a high-stakes environment. Post-study survey responses also indicated that participants in the test groups felt greater frustration, underscoring the need for tools and strategies to mitigate stress. These findings highlight the importance of effective communication design and stress management in high-stakes environments.