How Is Human Sexual Desire Managed in Space? [Reading Science]

Canadian Female Scholars: "Prepare Measures Anticipating Space MeToo Movement"

Astronaut

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Human long-distance space travel, such as Mars exploration and lunar base development, is becoming a reality. Correspondingly, various technical and human factors, including food supply to ensure the continuous living of humans isolated in the vast and lonely space, are being researched. In particular, there is growing attention to the need for establishing standards and measures regarding sexual desire, love, and prevention of sexual violence.

On the 24th (local time), according to the space-specialized media 'Space.com,' Judith Lapierre, a professor at Laval University in Canada, and Maria Santaguida, a doctoral student at Concordia University in Canada, co-authored an article for the media making these claims.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to send female astronauts to the Moon for the first time through the Artemis project by the end of 2025 at the latest, and to conduct manned exploration on Mars in the 2030s. Public institutions like NASA, as well as private space development companies such as SpaceX, are conducting various studies to solve anticipated problems arising from astronauts’ long-term spaceflight. During the Mars exploration period, which takes more than six months, research is underway on supplying fresh food, managing waste and excrement, and understanding how the human body is affected by radiation exposure and weightlessness in deep space, as well as how to minimize these effects.

"Do You Want to Be a Sexual Object for Female Astronauts?"

The authors focused on issues such as sexual desire, love, and prevention of sexual violence. Since these will become essential matters during long-term space stays, urgent discussions and measures are necessary. Especially, as humanity’s long-term space habitation is becoming a reality, similar to the global #MeeToo movement that started in 2017, a space version of the MeeToo movement is expected, making it the right time to start discussions.

One of the article’s authors, Professor Lapierre, has a history of sexual harassment during a long-term simulated space station stay experiment conducted in Moscow, Russia, in 1999. Professor Lapierre participated as the only woman among eight participants in an experiment where they stayed for 110 days in a facility modeled after Russia’s Mir space station. However, one month after the experiment began, the Russian commander proposed to her, "How about trying an experiment where you are treated as a 'sexual object of your colleagues'?" Later, on the last day of that year, despite her repeated requests to stop, the Russian commander forcibly held and kissed her, saying, "Now is the time to conduct the experiment."

Professor Lapierre immediately reported the incident to the Canadian Space Agency, and an investigation was conducted. However, Russian media downplayed the incident, reporting that she suffered from depression and that it was merely a scuffle among colleagues. As a result of this conflict, the experiment period was shortened and ended early, and Professor Lapierre endured much suffering after the disclosure. This incident was also made into a film titled "Last Exit: Space" in 2022.

"Sexual Violence Frequent in Extreme Situations"

The authors argued that, as in Professor Lapierre’s case, sexual violence is widespread in other extreme situations. In fact, a survey conducted this year by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) of 290 women participating in the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) found that 72% had experienced sexual harassment, and 47% had been sexually assaulted. Last year, a survey of employees at private space companies Blue Origin and SpaceX revealed that 21 current and former employees exposed sexist workplace cultures, inappropriate behavior toward women, and sexual harassment by senior executives.

The authors pointed out, "NASA and other space development organizations must implement sexual harassment prevention policies that are far more advanced than the basics," and emphasized, "They must allocate necessary resources to establish appropriate prevention, reporting, and response measures, including support and protection for victims and survivors." They also stated, "Investment in research on human relationships and sexual health in space is necessary, and supervisory bodies composed of separate experts in sex, health, and psychology should be established," adding, "We must address the real challenges of space exploration by making it clear that behaviors unacceptable on Earth will not be tolerated in space travel."