Many behavioral scientists believe that interpersonal relationships amongst astronauts will be a problematic situation and could very well effect the over all mission and even endanger the crew. In fact many Sci Fi authors have written such animosities of interpersonal sexual relationships into their novels including Issac Asimoc, Arthur C. Clarke, Ben Bova and Tess Garitsen in her book Gravity. Indeed from what we know about humans and sex and tight confined areas is that it does cause behavior issues. Some of which can be explosive, vindictive and hostile, which in a Space Exploration Colony makes it very dangerous to all. Some say this can be solved by an all female crew or an all male crew, but if these people are locked up together their maybe same-sex relationships and it is well-known that such cat fights amongst gale males can be a big problem. Changing partners, jealousy and animosity amongst same sex or heterosexual relationships is a problem that NASA will have to work out prior to putting a crew into a capsule sending them for 10-months flight and then into a Mars Colony for five or six years. NASA is worried about romantic entanglements, love triangles and sexual out of control urges leading to problems. In fact the US National Academy of Sciences has warned of these problems. Then there are issues with infidelity of our astronauts, especially considering many are married with children and they will become role models to millions of Americans almost instantly. Even a 30 month mission would mean that there would be unlimited possibility for problems, but if the mission is long, even a bigger issue. This could jeopardize space missions, colonies or long-term space exploration flights through or even beyond the solar system. Additionally although no one has been discussing it, the secretions and fluids exchanged contain valuable substances, which will need to be recycled. In fact everything will need to be recycled to save weight; that means urine maybe used for battery power and/or filtered for drinking water and fecal matter maybe used to fertilize plants like fruit trees. Nothing can be wasted. There have been practice missions here on Earth where there have already been problems with sexual harassment, crews refusing to work and intense arguments, even borderline sabotage. No one denies that sex will need to be part of the mission and allowed otherwise the sexual anxiety and build up will cause other issues, such as violence amongst the males. Many astronauts are also athletes and produce more than average testosterone, often this is true to of the female astronauts as well. Sex robots may need to be implemented into the mission, perhaps for the married men, in the shape and dimensions of their wife and for single male crew members perhaps of a former girlfriend of non-descript female since the men may need sex more than the women may wish to. No matter what sexual bonding could also enhance the team and provide a very favorable social setting to get even more work done and create a super charged team effort. But NASA has to play it safe and make sure team members are compatible and perhaps even desirable of each other. This will prevent problems while stuck in a small space with many people of high energy, sexual desire and a must do mission, after all the we taxpayers are paying for this mission and we do not need to be paying for space orgies up there. Think on this. |
