Most of us are well acquainted with the notion of the asteroid impact on Earth that occurred appr... more Most of us are well acquainted with the notion of the asteroid impact on Earth that occurred approximately 65 billion years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. The space sciences have found an increasing number of objects in space capable of destroying life on our planet. The more space scientists study our galactic neighborhood, the more dangers from space phenomena they seemingly discover. This article seeks to demonstrate the value of applied (or practical) astrosociology based on its focus on the relationship between space and society. A killer asteroid or comet may be lurking. Applied astrosociologists must take part in studying these threats, making them understood as potential human tragedies, and challenging the proper social groups within their societies to construct defenses against them. We must emphasize their social consequences as well as their physical ones. Yet, just as we begin to take these risks more seriously, the greatest reaction comes from space scientists. What remains missing, therefore, is the complementary involvement of social scientists. We must not leave the connection between space and society to chance, as history has clearly demonstrated that we will eventually run out of luck. While the risk of the destruction of Earth itself is much more remote, the risk to human societies, civilizations, and the human species itself exist as much more menacing possibilities. The new field of astrosociology, though new to science, can serve to study all of the disparate social and cultural implications associated with the newly recognized imperative to protect the Earth and human societies around the world. Applied astrosociology will contribute to finding solutions.
The search for extraterrestrial societies on exoplanets, exomoons, and artificial structures has ... more The search for extraterrestrial societies on exoplanets, exomoons, and artificial structures has thus far proven unsuccessful. Nevertheless, astrosociology focuses on the human dimension of space exploration, which involves everything humanity discovers in space, and that includes nonhuman sentient life, which is the focus here. At this point in human history, the search itself is the focus by necessity as are all of the methodologies employed to increase the likelihood of such a discovery. Even if the eventual discovery of an extraterrestrial civilization is unlikely, astrosociologists, like astrobiologists and SETI scientists, must assume it is a likely outcome. Therefore, the efforts focusing on finding technosignatures are pursued. The connection between astrobiology and astrosociology lies in the basic idea that because Earth-based humans are actively searching for extraterrestrial life, it is therefore important to study how and why they participate in such activities as well as what would result if their searches discovered a nonhuman society. This essay focuses most heavily on technosignatures although other indications of life, such as biosignatures, are also relevant and thus receive some attention here. Thus, the detection of intelligent, technological life elsewhere in our universe does not fall only into the domains of astrobiology and SETI. There substantial issues that astrosociology, and more specifically the subfield of exoastrosociology, can best address. Nomenclature ARI = The Astrosociology Research Institute ET = extraterrestrial ETI = extraterrestrial intelligence ETIL = extraterrestrial intelligent life ETS = extraterrestrial society METI = Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration SETI = search for extraterrestrial intelligence STEM = science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEAM = science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts I. Introduction: The Difficulty of the Task XO-ASTROSOCIOLOGISTS are interested in life elsewhere in the cosmos, just like other scientists and scholars such as SETI researchers and astrobiologists as well as an untold number of those in the public sphere. Those who participate in the search itself continue to face a seemingly daunting task; namely, to detect a nonrelated genesis of life elsewhere in our universe. Paraphrasing Carl Sagan's character Ellie Arroway's statement that was famously articulated in the 1997 movie Contact: "the universe is an amazingly big place, so if it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space." With this in mind, humanity continues the search. Not surprisingly, though, the most common type of question that arises coincides with the Fermi Paradox, which corresponds to the current failure to detect evidence of extraterrestrial biology or technology, asking: Where is everybody? Where are all the nonhuman intelligent species? Relatedly, are homo sapiens truly alone? Is life on Earth a fluke or does life exist elsewhere? Is it rare or abundant? These types of questions have probably fascinated pre-humans and certainly modern humans for millennia. Several possibilities can explain this paradox that relate to "The Great Filter Theory" and the Kardashev scale (Webb, E
This chapter focuses on the importance and need to focus much more strongly on the social and beh... more This chapter focuses on the importance and need to focus much more strongly on the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts regarding the study of space issues, and Mars issues specifically. The particular focus here deals with the vital need to balance planning for Martian settlements between the two major branches of science [i.e., (1) the physical and natural sciences plus the STEM disciplines and fields and (2) the social sciences, humanities, and arts]. The current focus on settling Mars is on transportation issues and physical infrastructure construction of habitats or cities. In contrast, the arguments made here support the idea that planning for Martian settlements must include the "other" branch of science, and this extends to the monitoring of social interactions and other forces associated with the complexities generated by a growing population existing in an isolated and dangerous ecosystem on another planet. On Earth, the social sciences are vital and they will be on Mars as well. Astrosociology is a multidisciplinary academic field that studies issues related to space exploration, settlement, and other issues from social-scientific perspective, and it is complementary to the so-called "hard" sciences. Collaboration on a much more extensive basis is already overdue.
It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite under... more It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite understand how it will work in great detail before starting it up for the first time, or exactly how it works thereafter (given its complexity). At the system level, the normal operation of the space habitat can result in accidents. On the personal level, complacency, and the false sense of security that comes with it, become the enemy quite quickly and usually without much-or any-notice. Workers do not intend to overlook important signs of behavioral aberrations or equipment malfunctions, but they may lose their sharpness and objectivity over time. In isolated settings, a variety of causes can result in devastating accidents, which may result in illnesses, injuries, and deaths. In the worst circumstances, within the confines of a space habitat or spacecraft, an entire population could be lost. Oil refineries provide a good, though obviously imperfect, analogy for the space habitat. Refineries are complex systems that transport and process oils and fuels at varying steps during the refining process within a complex system. Space habitats represent even more extreme closed systems. There is often no escape, as the habitat provides the atmosphere and other elements necessary for survival. Inhabitants of space habitats must avoid the types of accidents that have occurred in refineries on Earth if they expect to survive as individuals and as a social system. Submarines present a better analogy of a closed system. A challenge that never disappears relates to the possibility that the system may operate on a "normally" on one day and then malfunction on another day for no apparent reason. Another challenge among members of a space society is to avoid complacency, because an imminent failure may occur at any time. Yet another challenge is to avoid engaging in health and safety violations in order to serve expediency due to pressures exerted by superiors and for other reasons. Maintenance workers and others must also avoid succumbing to peer pressure based on a variety of rationales. We can learn much from the existing social scientific health and safety literature. Theoretical application of these lessons to space habitats presents a difficult task for the astrosociologist before we build these extraterrestrial physical and social structures. These findings need to become part of the planning process in the future, but we must understand them now rather than after we place human beings at risk in hostile space ecologies. This article takes an initial, and thus cursory, look at these issues related to one form of deviance, hoping to serve as an impetus to provoke future research into this largely unexplored area.
Fundamentally, the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and the arts dominate astrosociolo... more Fundamentally, the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and the arts dominate astrosociology. However, collaboration with the space-related natural and physical sciences also plays a crucial role in understanding space issues from a holistic perspective. This paper examines the potential links between the social sciences (that includes all of the "soft" sciences for brevity) and the physical/natural sciences. This unification of the two branches constitutes what is termed medical astrosociology. It does not delve into the biomedical issues directly, which is the realm of space medicine, but it does provide linkages between these issues and those related to the social sciences. While space medicine is valuable in itself, behavioral health has recently emphasized a much more inclusive approach, and medical astrosociology brings in the social and behavioral sciences into the mix, along with the humanities-something that is too often missing. The approach medical astrosociology takes has a long history within sociology and anthropology regarding terrestrial medicine. The two extra facets-social and cultural forces-have implications for behavior beyond what physiology and psychology alone can explain. Because astrosociology is the study of astrosocial phenomena, which include the social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space, medical astrosociology covers the human dimension that becomes the target of inquiry on multiple levels: (1) physiology, (2) psychology, (3) society (including social forces), and (4) culture (both ideas and materials). In other words, medical astrosociology focuses on how space medicine is practiced (the physical) within the social, cultural, and mental dimensions in which the patient, third parties such as family members, and practitioners all live. It is quite clear that the best course of action medically is not always allowed to occur due to impediments that often have no direct relationship to the strictly medical decision making process. Sometimes, for example, ethical dilemmas force compromises by both the patient and physician or hospital administration. It occurs on Earth, so it will occur in space ecosystems as well, which often present additional unique challenges to the practice of space medicine due challenges presented by their extraterrestrial environments.
Throughout the space age, the social sciences, and especially sociology, demonstrated a strong re... more Throughout the space age, the social sciences, and especially sociology, demonstrated a strong reluctance to address human behavior and societal issues related to space. The American larger culture supports space exploration though an undercurrent exists that questions its legitimacy. SETI represents a good example of a substantive area supported in science fiction literature, now adopted by astrobiology, and yet ignored by the sociological community. This presentation seeks to examine some of these contradictions as they relate to SETI and the proposed establishment of astrosociology.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our r... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities, as it relates to the shift to a more substantial human presence in space. It focuses on the social science perspective needed to make this possible rather than the practical aspects of doing so, such as the engineering of functional habitats. A most important consideration involves the permanent establishment of a formal collaborative mechanism between astrosociologists and the engineers and space scientists who traditionally comprise the space community. The theoretical and applied aspects of astrosociology each have much to contribute toward the human dimension of space exploration, both on the Earth and beyond its atmosphere. The bottom line is that a social species such as ours cannot determine how to live in space without the input from a social science perspective, namely astrosociology.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our r... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities, as it relates to the shift to a more substantial human presence in space. It focuses on the social science perspective needed to make this possible rather than the practical aspects of doing so, such as the engineering of functional habitats. A most important consideration involves the permanent establishment of a formal collaborative mechanism between astrosociologists and the engineers and space scientists who traditionally comprise the space community. The theoretical and applied aspects of astrosociology each have much to contribute toward the human dimension of space exploration, both on the Earth and beyond its atmosphere. The bottom line is that a social species such as ours cannot determine how to live in space without the input from a social science perspective, namely astrosociology.
A void has existed within the social sciences for over fifty years since the launch of the first ... more A void has existed within the social sciences for over fifty years since the launch of the first Sputnik satellite in October 1957. This void delineates the boundaries of a missing field, a discipline capable of focusing on the relationship between social life and outer space. It is not that surprising that many may interpret a discussion of how outer space affects society as an "alien" idea, so we seek to delineate the ways in which such a discussion relates to the varied facets of social life. As a starting point, one may express the relationship between social life and outer space as astrosociology. We can define astrosociology as the study of social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general framework for more precise language concerning the definition, scope, character, and future development of astrosociology, while simultaneously attempting to elicit a broader discussion of astrosociology's association to other disciplines. Astrosociology was originally a new subfield under the umbrella of sociology for a short time. However, a broader perspective fits much more aptly than a restrictive sociological perspective. Supporters from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts voiced their interest in astrosociology over the past few years via different scholarly mediums. Such scholarship is adding to the body of work of astrosociology. Moreover, an increasing number from the broad and heterogeneous space community began to recognize the interrelationships between the social science community and the space community. The three perspectives found in this paper include (1) astrosociology as a social science, (2) law and astrosociology, and (3) astrosociology in science fiction. These three perspectives symbolize threads within the discipline of astrosociology that link together to form a more coherent pattern of social interconnections, and better represent humanity's movement into outer space. The authors strive to provide a better explanation of how astrosociology can bridge the divide within the various components of the space community and thus deliver a greater level of enlightenment regarding the social dimensions of outer space. In addition, the authors will critique the other respective disciplines in this paper and offer recommendations for further analysis and debate. A central outcome is to determine how the various fields and disciplines that comprise astrosociology as a multidisciplinary field can work together to build a missing body of knowledge and its related literature. Filling this void, we believe, cannot occur soon enough because a greater level of understanding regarding humans in space must exist before humanity actually migrates into the solar system and beyond. The continued development of this new field called "astrosociology" can achieve that goal. STROSOCIOLOGY cannot develop in a manner that reaches its full potential as an academic field without several rounds of careful thought and discussion -even considerable debate -concerning its very definition 1
Humans can only survive in space on a sustained basis when they live in a social group of some ki... more Humans can only survive in space on a sustained basis when they live in a social group of some kind, whether a crew for short-term survival or communities and larger social structures for long-term survival. Space societies represent the most stable form of social structure, though they require a large number of settlers, as the following discussion will explore. Humans are social animals. Therefore, social interaction is necessary for people to remain psychologically healthy. With this in mind, it should be apparent that the design of the space habitat and the planning of the social environment are both absolutely necessary. It is extremely unwise to send humans into space environments, each of which possesses its own set of physical hardships, without the input of social scientists and humanists. Proper astrosociological research and planning will prove essential, as the physical environment normally focused upon cannot ensure that those who live within habitat walls will thrive socially. In other words, it is not enough to simply place a group of human beings into a safe physical environment and expect a successful outcome. This paper investigates some of the most important social, cultural, and psychological issues involved with sending humans to locations beyond Earth. Hostile space environments present challenges to health and safety that create stress that affects individuals, social groups, and entire communities (in larger settlements). The relative inattention to the astrosociological issues involved with the successful migration into space environments is troublesome to this author. What follows is a mixture of an exploration of the relevant issues and a set of cautionary messages regarding what can happen if the social sciences and humanities do not receive their due participatory status in the planning and ongoing study of space ecosystems.
The absence of a social science oriented outer space curriculum continues to hinder advancements ... more The absence of a social science oriented outer space curriculum continues to hinder advancements in current space exploration, exploitation, and settlement activities; those in the planning stages; and future endeavors only dreamed about or not yet contemplated. The missing focus remains on the human dimension of outer space. This concept includes the effects of space on human societies, their social structures and cultures, and the behavior of individuals. Despite all of the good knowledge produced by the hard sciences, technological advancements, engineering constructs, and mathematical insights (STEM), both religion and the STEM disciplines have been unable to explain the complexities brought to bear by human beings, both on Earth and in space. Sociology, psychology, and all of the other social/behavioral sciences and humanities were created to fill the gap by inventing another branch of science that focused on this human dimension. In the space community, the "other" branch of science has received only limited attention despite the fact that human beings are the species that happens to explore space. A much greater focus is needed on the human dimension, as it provides the balance to the STEM disciplines. Astrosociology exists to provide this balance, and thus astrosociology education and research must become more mainstream and supported by the space community, both in the context of venturing out into space and coping with the growing impact of space on terrestrial societies. Two older surveys administered by this author are presented to provide some thoughts by students, professionals, and laypersons about the importance of developing astrosociology.
Archaeology might be defined simply as the study of 'the human altered world'. Un... more Archaeology might be defined simply as the study of 'the human altered world'. Until recently, traces of humanity's past could have only been found on Earth. But, as our influence continues to expand beyond, we must consider human activities and human-made objects in space and how they—as extensions of ourselves—impact other worlds and the spaces between. This is 'space archaeology'. Features interviews with five activists and innovators in the research and education of outer space from the perspective of archaeology and anthropology.
As with any academic field, astrosociology allows for an endless number of competing theoretical ... more As with any academic field, astrosociology allows for an endless number of competing theoretical models and hypotheses. One possible theoretical model is presented here that starts with the premise that even the most advanced societies today are extremely far from achieving a spacefaring status. The most advanced nation states are, in fact, space-capable societies because they have the capacity to send cargo and humans into low Earth orbit and beyond. However, their social structures and cultures lack fundamental characteristics that would allow for their designation as spacefaring societies. This article describes the characteristics of a theoretical spacefaring society and argues that getting there from our current status as space-capable societies is a long and arduous process, and it is not a definite outcome whatsoever. While a continuum is offered, it represents an imprecise path that can retrograde or fall apart at any time. Thus, this theoretical model provides one possible series of an unfolding of events that result in the creation of characteristics of the social fabric that may result in movement along the continuum toward a spacefaring society. Movement along the continuum results in an accumulation of coordinated spacefaring characteristics for a given society. Simultaneously, strictly terrestrial characteristics disappear or transform themselves into hybrid forms that include spacefaring features. This exercise demonstrates that this theoretical exercise has a number of benefits for astrosociologists conducting research in the area of spacefaring theory. Moreover, it makes the case for the idea that the study of the theoretical transformation from a space-capable to a spacefaring society includes implications for current and future 1) space policy in the public sector and 2) corporate decision-making related to space in the private sector.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and o... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities...
It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite under... more It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite understand how it will work in great detail before starting it up for the first time, or exactly how it works thereafter (given its complexity). At the system level, the normal operation of the space habitat can result in accidents. On the personal level, complacency, and the false sense of security that comes with it, become the enemy quite quickly and usually without much – or any – notice. Workers do not intend to overlook important signs of behavioral aberrations or equipment malfunctions, but they may lose their sharpness and objectivity over time. In isolated settings, a variety of causes can result in devastating accidents, which may result in illnesses, injuries, and deaths. In the worst circumstances, within the confines of a space habitat or spacecraft, an entire population could be lost. Oil refineries provide a good, though obviously imperfect, analogy for the space habitat. Refin...
Most of us are well acquainted with the notion of the asteroid impact on Earth that occurred appr... more Most of us are well acquainted with the notion of the asteroid impact on Earth that occurred approximately 65 billion years ago, killing off the dinosaurs. The space sciences have found an increasing number of objects in space capable of destroying life on our planet. The more space scientists study our galactic neighborhood, the more dangers from space phenomena they seemingly discover. This article seeks to demonstrate the value of applied (or practical) astrosociology based on its focus on the relationship between space and society. A killer asteroid or comet may be lurking. Applied astrosociologists must take part in studying these threats, making them understood as potential human tragedies, and challenging the proper social groups within their societies to construct defenses against them. We must emphasize their social consequences as well as their physical ones. Yet, just as we begin to take these risks more seriously, the greatest reaction comes from space scientists. What remains missing, therefore, is the complementary involvement of social scientists. We must not leave the connection between space and society to chance, as history has clearly demonstrated that we will eventually run out of luck. While the risk of the destruction of Earth itself is much more remote, the risk to human societies, civilizations, and the human species itself exist as much more menacing possibilities. The new field of astrosociology, though new to science, can serve to study all of the disparate social and cultural implications associated with the newly recognized imperative to protect the Earth and human societies around the world. Applied astrosociology will contribute to finding solutions.
The search for extraterrestrial societies on exoplanets, exomoons, and artificial structures has ... more The search for extraterrestrial societies on exoplanets, exomoons, and artificial structures has thus far proven unsuccessful. Nevertheless, astrosociology focuses on the human dimension of space exploration, which involves everything humanity discovers in space, and that includes nonhuman sentient life, which is the focus here. At this point in human history, the search itself is the focus by necessity as are all of the methodologies employed to increase the likelihood of such a discovery. Even if the eventual discovery of an extraterrestrial civilization is unlikely, astrosociologists, like astrobiologists and SETI scientists, must assume it is a likely outcome. Therefore, the efforts focusing on finding technosignatures are pursued. The connection between astrobiology and astrosociology lies in the basic idea that because Earth-based humans are actively searching for extraterrestrial life, it is therefore important to study how and why they participate in such activities as well as what would result if their searches discovered a nonhuman society. This essay focuses most heavily on technosignatures although other indications of life, such as biosignatures, are also relevant and thus receive some attention here. Thus, the detection of intelligent, technological life elsewhere in our universe does not fall only into the domains of astrobiology and SETI. There substantial issues that astrosociology, and more specifically the subfield of exoastrosociology, can best address. Nomenclature ARI = The Astrosociology Research Institute ET = extraterrestrial ETI = extraterrestrial intelligence ETIL = extraterrestrial intelligent life ETS = extraterrestrial society METI = Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration SETI = search for extraterrestrial intelligence STEM = science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEAM = science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts I. Introduction: The Difficulty of the Task XO-ASTROSOCIOLOGISTS are interested in life elsewhere in the cosmos, just like other scientists and scholars such as SETI researchers and astrobiologists as well as an untold number of those in the public sphere. Those who participate in the search itself continue to face a seemingly daunting task; namely, to detect a nonrelated genesis of life elsewhere in our universe. Paraphrasing Carl Sagan's character Ellie Arroway's statement that was famously articulated in the 1997 movie Contact: "the universe is an amazingly big place, so if it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space." With this in mind, humanity continues the search. Not surprisingly, though, the most common type of question that arises coincides with the Fermi Paradox, which corresponds to the current failure to detect evidence of extraterrestrial biology or technology, asking: Where is everybody? Where are all the nonhuman intelligent species? Relatedly, are homo sapiens truly alone? Is life on Earth a fluke or does life exist elsewhere? Is it rare or abundant? These types of questions have probably fascinated pre-humans and certainly modern humans for millennia. Several possibilities can explain this paradox that relate to "The Great Filter Theory" and the Kardashev scale (Webb, E
This chapter focuses on the importance and need to focus much more strongly on the social and beh... more This chapter focuses on the importance and need to focus much more strongly on the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts regarding the study of space issues, and Mars issues specifically. The particular focus here deals with the vital need to balance planning for Martian settlements between the two major branches of science [i.e., (1) the physical and natural sciences plus the STEM disciplines and fields and (2) the social sciences, humanities, and arts]. The current focus on settling Mars is on transportation issues and physical infrastructure construction of habitats or cities. In contrast, the arguments made here support the idea that planning for Martian settlements must include the "other" branch of science, and this extends to the monitoring of social interactions and other forces associated with the complexities generated by a growing population existing in an isolated and dangerous ecosystem on another planet. On Earth, the social sciences are vital and they will be on Mars as well. Astrosociology is a multidisciplinary academic field that studies issues related to space exploration, settlement, and other issues from social-scientific perspective, and it is complementary to the so-called "hard" sciences. Collaboration on a much more extensive basis is already overdue.
It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite under... more It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite understand how it will work in great detail before starting it up for the first time, or exactly how it works thereafter (given its complexity). At the system level, the normal operation of the space habitat can result in accidents. On the personal level, complacency, and the false sense of security that comes with it, become the enemy quite quickly and usually without much-or any-notice. Workers do not intend to overlook important signs of behavioral aberrations or equipment malfunctions, but they may lose their sharpness and objectivity over time. In isolated settings, a variety of causes can result in devastating accidents, which may result in illnesses, injuries, and deaths. In the worst circumstances, within the confines of a space habitat or spacecraft, an entire population could be lost. Oil refineries provide a good, though obviously imperfect, analogy for the space habitat. Refineries are complex systems that transport and process oils and fuels at varying steps during the refining process within a complex system. Space habitats represent even more extreme closed systems. There is often no escape, as the habitat provides the atmosphere and other elements necessary for survival. Inhabitants of space habitats must avoid the types of accidents that have occurred in refineries on Earth if they expect to survive as individuals and as a social system. Submarines present a better analogy of a closed system. A challenge that never disappears relates to the possibility that the system may operate on a "normally" on one day and then malfunction on another day for no apparent reason. Another challenge among members of a space society is to avoid complacency, because an imminent failure may occur at any time. Yet another challenge is to avoid engaging in health and safety violations in order to serve expediency due to pressures exerted by superiors and for other reasons. Maintenance workers and others must also avoid succumbing to peer pressure based on a variety of rationales. We can learn much from the existing social scientific health and safety literature. Theoretical application of these lessons to space habitats presents a difficult task for the astrosociologist before we build these extraterrestrial physical and social structures. These findings need to become part of the planning process in the future, but we must understand them now rather than after we place human beings at risk in hostile space ecologies. This article takes an initial, and thus cursory, look at these issues related to one form of deviance, hoping to serve as an impetus to provoke future research into this largely unexplored area.
Fundamentally, the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and the arts dominate astrosociolo... more Fundamentally, the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and the arts dominate astrosociology. However, collaboration with the space-related natural and physical sciences also plays a crucial role in understanding space issues from a holistic perspective. This paper examines the potential links between the social sciences (that includes all of the "soft" sciences for brevity) and the physical/natural sciences. This unification of the two branches constitutes what is termed medical astrosociology. It does not delve into the biomedical issues directly, which is the realm of space medicine, but it does provide linkages between these issues and those related to the social sciences. While space medicine is valuable in itself, behavioral health has recently emphasized a much more inclusive approach, and medical astrosociology brings in the social and behavioral sciences into the mix, along with the humanities-something that is too often missing. The approach medical astrosociology takes has a long history within sociology and anthropology regarding terrestrial medicine. The two extra facets-social and cultural forces-have implications for behavior beyond what physiology and psychology alone can explain. Because astrosociology is the study of astrosocial phenomena, which include the social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space, medical astrosociology covers the human dimension that becomes the target of inquiry on multiple levels: (1) physiology, (2) psychology, (3) society (including social forces), and (4) culture (both ideas and materials). In other words, medical astrosociology focuses on how space medicine is practiced (the physical) within the social, cultural, and mental dimensions in which the patient, third parties such as family members, and practitioners all live. It is quite clear that the best course of action medically is not always allowed to occur due to impediments that often have no direct relationship to the strictly medical decision making process. Sometimes, for example, ethical dilemmas force compromises by both the patient and physician or hospital administration. It occurs on Earth, so it will occur in space ecosystems as well, which often present additional unique challenges to the practice of space medicine due challenges presented by their extraterrestrial environments.
Throughout the space age, the social sciences, and especially sociology, demonstrated a strong re... more Throughout the space age, the social sciences, and especially sociology, demonstrated a strong reluctance to address human behavior and societal issues related to space. The American larger culture supports space exploration though an undercurrent exists that questions its legitimacy. SETI represents a good example of a substantive area supported in science fiction literature, now adopted by astrobiology, and yet ignored by the sociological community. This presentation seeks to examine some of these contradictions as they relate to SETI and the proposed establishment of astrosociology.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our r... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities, as it relates to the shift to a more substantial human presence in space. It focuses on the social science perspective needed to make this possible rather than the practical aspects of doing so, such as the engineering of functional habitats. A most important consideration involves the permanent establishment of a formal collaborative mechanism between astrosociologists and the engineers and space scientists who traditionally comprise the space community. The theoretical and applied aspects of astrosociology each have much to contribute toward the human dimension of space exploration, both on the Earth and beyond its atmosphere. The bottom line is that a social species such as ours cannot determine how to live in space without the input from a social science perspective, namely astrosociology.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our r... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities, as it relates to the shift to a more substantial human presence in space. It focuses on the social science perspective needed to make this possible rather than the practical aspects of doing so, such as the engineering of functional habitats. A most important consideration involves the permanent establishment of a formal collaborative mechanism between astrosociologists and the engineers and space scientists who traditionally comprise the space community. The theoretical and applied aspects of astrosociology each have much to contribute toward the human dimension of space exploration, both on the Earth and beyond its atmosphere. The bottom line is that a social species such as ours cannot determine how to live in space without the input from a social science perspective, namely astrosociology.
A void has existed within the social sciences for over fifty years since the launch of the first ... more A void has existed within the social sciences for over fifty years since the launch of the first Sputnik satellite in October 1957. This void delineates the boundaries of a missing field, a discipline capable of focusing on the relationship between social life and outer space. It is not that surprising that many may interpret a discussion of how outer space affects society as an "alien" idea, so we seek to delineate the ways in which such a discussion relates to the varied facets of social life. As a starting point, one may express the relationship between social life and outer space as astrosociology. We can define astrosociology as the study of social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general framework for more precise language concerning the definition, scope, character, and future development of astrosociology, while simultaneously attempting to elicit a broader discussion of astrosociology's association to other disciplines. Astrosociology was originally a new subfield under the umbrella of sociology for a short time. However, a broader perspective fits much more aptly than a restrictive sociological perspective. Supporters from the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts voiced their interest in astrosociology over the past few years via different scholarly mediums. Such scholarship is adding to the body of work of astrosociology. Moreover, an increasing number from the broad and heterogeneous space community began to recognize the interrelationships between the social science community and the space community. The three perspectives found in this paper include (1) astrosociology as a social science, (2) law and astrosociology, and (3) astrosociology in science fiction. These three perspectives symbolize threads within the discipline of astrosociology that link together to form a more coherent pattern of social interconnections, and better represent humanity's movement into outer space. The authors strive to provide a better explanation of how astrosociology can bridge the divide within the various components of the space community and thus deliver a greater level of enlightenment regarding the social dimensions of outer space. In addition, the authors will critique the other respective disciplines in this paper and offer recommendations for further analysis and debate. A central outcome is to determine how the various fields and disciplines that comprise astrosociology as a multidisciplinary field can work together to build a missing body of knowledge and its related literature. Filling this void, we believe, cannot occur soon enough because a greater level of understanding regarding humans in space must exist before humanity actually migrates into the solar system and beyond. The continued development of this new field called "astrosociology" can achieve that goal. STROSOCIOLOGY cannot develop in a manner that reaches its full potential as an academic field without several rounds of careful thought and discussion -even considerable debate -concerning its very definition 1
Humans can only survive in space on a sustained basis when they live in a social group of some ki... more Humans can only survive in space on a sustained basis when they live in a social group of some kind, whether a crew for short-term survival or communities and larger social structures for long-term survival. Space societies represent the most stable form of social structure, though they require a large number of settlers, as the following discussion will explore. Humans are social animals. Therefore, social interaction is necessary for people to remain psychologically healthy. With this in mind, it should be apparent that the design of the space habitat and the planning of the social environment are both absolutely necessary. It is extremely unwise to send humans into space environments, each of which possesses its own set of physical hardships, without the input of social scientists and humanists. Proper astrosociological research and planning will prove essential, as the physical environment normally focused upon cannot ensure that those who live within habitat walls will thrive socially. In other words, it is not enough to simply place a group of human beings into a safe physical environment and expect a successful outcome. This paper investigates some of the most important social, cultural, and psychological issues involved with sending humans to locations beyond Earth. Hostile space environments present challenges to health and safety that create stress that affects individuals, social groups, and entire communities (in larger settlements). The relative inattention to the astrosociological issues involved with the successful migration into space environments is troublesome to this author. What follows is a mixture of an exploration of the relevant issues and a set of cautionary messages regarding what can happen if the social sciences and humanities do not receive their due participatory status in the planning and ongoing study of space ecosystems.
The absence of a social science oriented outer space curriculum continues to hinder advancements ... more The absence of a social science oriented outer space curriculum continues to hinder advancements in current space exploration, exploitation, and settlement activities; those in the planning stages; and future endeavors only dreamed about or not yet contemplated. The missing focus remains on the human dimension of outer space. This concept includes the effects of space on human societies, their social structures and cultures, and the behavior of individuals. Despite all of the good knowledge produced by the hard sciences, technological advancements, engineering constructs, and mathematical insights (STEM), both religion and the STEM disciplines have been unable to explain the complexities brought to bear by human beings, both on Earth and in space. Sociology, psychology, and all of the other social/behavioral sciences and humanities were created to fill the gap by inventing another branch of science that focused on this human dimension. In the space community, the "other" branch of science has received only limited attention despite the fact that human beings are the species that happens to explore space. A much greater focus is needed on the human dimension, as it provides the balance to the STEM disciplines. Astrosociology exists to provide this balance, and thus astrosociology education and research must become more mainstream and supported by the space community, both in the context of venturing out into space and coping with the growing impact of space on terrestrial societies. Two older surveys administered by this author are presented to provide some thoughts by students, professionals, and laypersons about the importance of developing astrosociology.
Archaeology might be defined simply as the study of 'the human altered world'. Un... more Archaeology might be defined simply as the study of 'the human altered world'. Until recently, traces of humanity's past could have only been found on Earth. But, as our influence continues to expand beyond, we must consider human activities and human-made objects in space and how they—as extensions of ourselves—impact other worlds and the spaces between. This is 'space archaeology'. Features interviews with five activists and innovators in the research and education of outer space from the perspective of archaeology and anthropology.
As with any academic field, astrosociology allows for an endless number of competing theoretical ... more As with any academic field, astrosociology allows for an endless number of competing theoretical models and hypotheses. One possible theoretical model is presented here that starts with the premise that even the most advanced societies today are extremely far from achieving a spacefaring status. The most advanced nation states are, in fact, space-capable societies because they have the capacity to send cargo and humans into low Earth orbit and beyond. However, their social structures and cultures lack fundamental characteristics that would allow for their designation as spacefaring societies. This article describes the characteristics of a theoretical spacefaring society and argues that getting there from our current status as space-capable societies is a long and arduous process, and it is not a definite outcome whatsoever. While a continuum is offered, it represents an imprecise path that can retrograde or fall apart at any time. Thus, this theoretical model provides one possible series of an unfolding of events that result in the creation of characteristics of the social fabric that may result in movement along the continuum toward a spacefaring society. Movement along the continuum results in an accumulation of coordinated spacefaring characteristics for a given society. Simultaneously, strictly terrestrial characteristics disappear or transform themselves into hybrid forms that include spacefaring features. This exercise demonstrates that this theoretical exercise has a number of benefits for astrosociologists conducting research in the area of spacefaring theory. Moreover, it makes the case for the idea that the study of the theoretical transformation from a space-capable to a spacefaring society includes implications for current and future 1) space policy in the public sector and 2) corporate decision-making related to space in the private sector.
The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and o... more The space age marches on. Following President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) and our recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of spaceflight on October 4, 2007, we should now take time to contemplate where we have been as it relates to where we are going. Space exploration has depended most strongly on engineers and space scientists in the past. This made sense when crews remained small, manned missions tended to operate in low Earth orbit and on a temporary basis, and the bulk of missions were carried out by robotic spacecraft. The question one must now ask is this: What will change in the next fifty years? One fundamental answer to this question involves the strong probability that human beings will increasingly go into space to live and work on long-duration missions and begin to live in space permanently. This article addresses the need to utilize the other neglected branch of science, comprised of the social and behavioral sciences along with the humanities...
It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite under... more It is easy to take a well-functioning complex system for granted, even when we do not quite understand how it will work in great detail before starting it up for the first time, or exactly how it works thereafter (given its complexity). At the system level, the normal operation of the space habitat can result in accidents. On the personal level, complacency, and the false sense of security that comes with it, become the enemy quite quickly and usually without much – or any – notice. Workers do not intend to overlook important signs of behavioral aberrations or equipment malfunctions, but they may lose their sharpness and objectivity over time. In isolated settings, a variety of causes can result in devastating accidents, which may result in illnesses, injuries, and deaths. In the worst circumstances, within the confines of a space habitat or spacecraft, an entire population could be lost. Oil refineries provide a good, though obviously imperfect, analogy for the space habitat. Refin...
Uploads
Papers by Jim Pass