(Montreal) The rapid development of space tourism and the planning of long missions to the moon or to Mars mean that humans will sooner or later make love in space, and it is important to focus now on how this sexuality will be lived, argues a Montreal researcher.
The American space agency, NASA, assures that no sexual relationship has ever taken place in space. However, it is only a matter of time before that happens, believes doctoral student Simon Dubé of Concordia University.
“As we continue to expand in space we carry out more and more long-term missions, either in orbit, or towards the Moon, or towards Mars or possibly elsewhere, it Obviously, you have to confront all the complex and biopsychosocial issues related to sexuality, then human intimacy, ”said Mr. Dubé.
A wealthy couple who take a little trip to orbit might decide to take the opportunity to join what we would call in English the “62-mile-high club” (the ultra-exclusive club for those who have made love in orbit, at an altitude of 100 kilometers, compared to the “mile-high-club” of those who have had sex on board a plane). Astronauts stuck aboard a ship for several months could end up giving in to temptation.
Studies on the subject so far show that eventually sexual, romantic and / or intimate relationships will eventually develop between space explorers, write Dubé and colleagues in the Journal of Sex Research. Banning such relationships or forcing sexual abstinence on astronauts is not a viable option, they argue.
Healthy sexuality
Healthy sexuality is an essential component of the physical, psychological and emotional health of humans, the study authors reminded. The crew of a spaceship or members of a permanent mission to the Moon or Mars will, on the other hand, have only limited access to compatible sexual or romantic partners, and this can be a source of stress and Conflicts.
It’s easy to imagine the situation that will arise if two crew members develop a relationship that ends badly. Or if one of the two former partners then forms a couple with someone else. Or, if one crew member refuses advances from another. And who would dare – in a situation where collaboration is essential and where each depends on the other – to refuse a rapprochement with the person in charge of medical care, for example?
At 100 kilometers above sea level, or thousands of kilometers from Earth, it is simply not possible to extricate yourself from an uncomfortable or dangerous situation by taxiing home.
The likelihood of such hazards emerging likely increases with the amount of time people spend in space and their distance from Earth’s resources, the authors argue.
“Imagine if this is happening in contexts where you are on a long-term mission, and for several months, if not years, with a relatively small crew. You can’t run away. What are the remedies? Asked Mr. Dubé.
The example of Judith Lapierre
The authors of the article cite as an example the Quebec scientist Judith Lapierre, who participated at the turn of the millennium in a European simulation of a space mission and who is the co-author of the new article.
Today researcher at Laval University, Mme Lapierre was locked in a caisson the size of a train car (and which mimicked the defunct Mir space station) with a few men for 110 days. She then recounted being grabbed and forcibly kissed by the Russian mission official, to the point where she felt the need to start sleeping with a knife under her pillow.
She was also allegedly the subject of a sexist discussion that made her the sex toy of the other participants.
“These deplorable events highlight the likelihood of sexual harassment and violence” during a space mission, write the authors.
The experiences of some members of the armed forces during long deployments abroad can also serve as a point of comparison and be rich in lessons to predict what lies ahead for space explorers. In Canada, for example, the armed forces have been beset by a succession of sex scandals for over a year.
Even with the rigorous training to which they are subjected, astronauts remain humans with intimate wants and needs, researchers say, and they will likely find a way to satisfy them. And is there any need to remember that those who will shell out thousands, if not millions, of dollars for the privilege of staying in space are unlikely to be of the same caliber?
Better understand
To contain the risks and exploit the benefits of sexuality in space, it is first of all important to better understand them, argue the authors.
“You really have to take a proactive strategy and then start studying (the topic) to develop workouts, courses, preparations, for people who are going to be living in space for long periods of time, for people who are going to be living in space for long periods of time. prepare for this reality, ”said Mr. Dubé.
We must take an interest in sexuality in space before space stays take even more magnitude and unfortunate events occur, argues the researcher. It is important now to explore how this sexuality will be experienced in a healthy, fulfilling and respectful way by astronauts, whether professional or amateur.
Intimacy and sexuality – like entertainment – could help tolerate and normalize life in space by making it more enjoyable and less lonely, the authors write.
“(Sexuality can) have benefits for cardiovascular health and psychological well-being,” Dubé said. It can help to sleep, to relax. It can also help normalize life in space. It can allow people to adapt to contexts that are very stressful and demanding, that is to say, living and working in a restricted environment. ”
The authors immediately suggest using technology to satisfy the sexual needs of astronauts, much like participants in long-term scientific or military missions may have pornography or sex toys in their possession.
And if humans aspire to colonize other worlds permanently, we will need to better understand how they can then reproduce, since procreation in space would come with multiple challenges such as weightlessness and exposure to radiation. For example, experiments on mice have shown that microgravity can interfere with sperm motility and embryo development.
In case of slippage, warn the authors in conclusion, space agencies, whether public or private, will not be able to plead ignorance since studies on related subjects have been carried out for about thirty years. So they could one day be held accountable for the health and safety of those they send to the stars.
“If we don’t study and if we don’t plan for these issues, there can be a lot of problems that will arise,” said Mr. Dubé.