A Philosophical Inquiry into the Role of
Sexology in Space Life Sciences Research and
Human Factors Considerations for
Extended Spaceflight

 

Raymond J. Noonan, Ph.D.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	iii
FIGURE	x
PREFACE	xi

 

CHAPTER
I	SEXUALITY AND SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIERS	1
	An Overview of the Issues	1
	Sexology as a Multidisciplinary Yet Distinct Scientific Discipline	7
	The Space Life Sciences and the Study of Human Factors	10

 

II	THE METHOD OF PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY	13
	Philosophical Inquiry as a Method of Scientific Analysis	13
	Philosophical Inquiry in the Space Sciences	23
	Philosophical Inquiry in the Sexual Sciences	27
	Organizations and Their Actions	33
	The Contribution of Research in Futures Studies	36
	Synopsis of the Argument	39
	Background of the Study	40
	Formulating the Problem and the Approach to the Study	43

 

III	THE SEXUAL SCIENCES	47
	Sexology and the Study of Human Sexuality	47
	The Significance of Sexuality in Human Life	51
	Reiss’s Sociological Theory of Human Sexuality	54
	Sexosophy and Money’s Psychosocial Theories	55
	Gagnon and Simon’s Sexual Scripts and Scripting Theory	57
	Prescott’s Somatosensory Pleasure Deprivation Theory	58
	The Meanings of Sexuality to Human Beings	60
	Cross-Cultural Aspects of Sexuality	64
	The Biomedical Realm of Sexology	67
	Reproduction	67
	Sexual Functioning	69
	Sexuality as a Social Phenomenon	73
	The Psychological Environment of Sex	75
	Gender and Gendered Relationships	77
	Sexual Orientation	78
	Money’s Concepts of Lovemaps, Gendermaps, and Paraphilias	79
	Emerging Concepts in Modern Sexology	81
	The Ascendancy of Sexual Victimology	81
	The Role of Technology in Sexology	82

 

IV	THE SPACE LIFE SCIENCES	85
	The Human Quest for Space	85
	The Physical Environment of Space	89
	Microgravity	90
	Radiation	92
	Other Physical Factors	93
	Space Mission Analysis and Design	94
	The Life Sciences Within This Context	95
	Human Factors Considerations	96
	The Biomedical Realm: Space Medicine and Space Biology	98
	The Psychosocial Realm: The Long-Neglected Sphere	108
	Crew Selection Issues	114
	The Development of Space Cultures	118
	Theoretical Foundations: Systems Perspectives	120
	Miller’s Living Systems Theory	120
	Systems Theory in Working with Families	126
	Rogers’s Science of Unitary Human Beings	129
	The Human Future in Space	130

 

V	THE COLLISION OF SPACE AND SEXUAL SCIENCE	133
	Everything Under the Sun—But Sex?	133
	The Impact of Women in Space	139
	Women’s Early Efforts to Become Astronauts	144
	The Possibility of Homosexuality in Space	150
	Writings on Sexuality Factors in the Context of Space	154
	The Space Life Sciences Literature	155
	General-Interest Books and the Print and Electronic Media	178
	Pogue’s How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space?	178
	Asimov’s “Sex in a Spaceship”	182
	Mass Media Reports	185
	The Broadcast Media	188
	The World Wide Web and On-Line Sites	190
	The Performing Arts	192

 

VI	SPACEFLIGHT AND THE HUMAN SEXUALITY COMPLEX: A COMING TOGETHER	195
	Overview of the Analysis	195
	The Potential Impact of Spaceflight on the Human Sexuality Complex	196
	Biomedical Aspects of Sexual Functioning in Space	197
	Space Analog Studies	212
	The Antarctica Experience	213
	Biosphere 2 and Other Analog Environments	224
	Psychosocial and Cross-Cultural Aspects	227
	The Issue of Privacy	227
	The Issue of Professionalism	229
	Conjecture on the Influence of Spaceflight on Sexological Issues	230
	Crew Selection, Training, and Research Issues	244
	A Systems Perspective for Sexology	256

 

VII	SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS	269
	The Arguments and Implications at a Glance	269
	The Common Threads Governing Sexual Issues	272
	Other Significant Factors Influencing Sex Research in Space	279
	Guidelines and Future Directions for Sex Research in Space	284
	Space Mission Analysis and Design for a Sexuality Study	284
	A Role for Sexologists in the Space Program?	288
	Political Considerations	289
	Conclusions	294
	Recommendations for Future Research	298

 

NOTES	302
REFERENCES	303
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY	329

 

APPENDICES		345
A	GLOSSARY OF SELECTED AEROSPACE, SEXUALITY, AND PHILOSOPHICAL TERMS	345
B	LYRICS TO DIANA GALLAGHER’S “ZERO-G SEX”	352

 

FIGURE
1	Relationship constellations: Sexual expression as a continuum	73

 

Noonan, R. J. (1998). A philosophical inquiry into the role of sexology in space life sciences research and human factors considerations for extended spaceflight. Doctoral dissertation, New York University (UMI publication number 9832759).

 

View Dissertation Preface

View Dissertation Abstract

View AsMA 2000 Presentation Abstract:

“Sexuality and Space: Theoretical Considerations for Extended Spaceflight.” Tuesday, May 16, 2000, 2:00-5:30pm, at New Horizons: The 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), May 14-20, 2000, Westin Galleria and Oaks, Houston, Texas (Poster Presentation). This is my first presentation based on the results of my dissertation.

Inquiries Welcome on Teaching, Speaking, and Writing Assignments

You can order bound or unbound copies of the dissertation at UMI’s Dissertation Express.
UMI publication number 9832759

Volume 4 of the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality (IES4), including 17 new countries and places, Robert T. Francoeur, Ph.D., Editor, and Raymond J. Noonan, Ph.D., Associate Editor, published in May 2001 by Continuum International Publishing Group: Includes my chapter on “Outer Space,” which highlights cross-cultural sexuality issues that will have an impact on the human future in space, based partly on my dissertation. For the table of contents or more information, see the IES4 Web site: http://www.SexQuest.com/IES4/, including supplemental chapters available only on the Web. Order from amazon.com!

“The Impact of AIDS on Our Perception of Sexuality” and “Sex Surrogates: The Continuing Controversy,” in Robert T. Francoeur’s Sexuality in America: Understanding Our Sexual Values and Behavior, published in August 1998 by Continuum Publishing Co. This new book contains an updated version of the chapter on the United States contained in the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality, Vol. 3 (in the set below). Now available in paperback at amazon.com!

Two articles in Robert T. Francoeur’s International Encyclopedia of Sexuality, published in August 1997 by Continuum Publishing Co.: “The Impact of AIDS on Our Perception of Sexuality” and “Sex Surrogates: The Continuing Controversy” in the United States chapter in volume 3, and additional comments (with Sandra Almeida) in the chapter on Brazil in volume 1. Encourage your library to purchase this three-volume, 1737-page set—the most comprehensive cross-cultural survey of sexuality in 33 countries ever published. Order from amazon.com.

“The Psychology of Sex: A Mirror from the Internet,” in Jayne Gackenbach’s Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Implications, published by Academic Press in October 1998. Visit the publisher to see the table of contents and more information, then come back here and order it from amazon.com.

The third edition of the book, Does Anyone Still Remember When Sex Was Fun? Positive Sexuality in the Age of AIDS, 3rd edition, edited by Peter B. Anderson, Diane de Mauro, & Raymond J. Noonan, published by Kendall/Hunt in September 1996. Click here for more information about the book. The latest on positive sexuality from the first book to address the issue: For anyone concerned about the increasingly negative ways in which sex is being portrayed in public life—and who wants to do something positive about it. Now out of print, but available soon in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format! However, used copies might be available at amazon.com.

Contact Info:

Raymond J. Noonan, Ph.D.
Director
SexQuest/The Sex Institute
P.O. Box 20166
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New York, NY 10014

E-mail: rjnoonan@SexQuest.com
Phone: (212) 217-7460

Inquiries Welcome on Teaching, Speaking, and Writing Assignments

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