Making space sexy

J. Stringer, Phoenix Arizona — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 23:51:12 GMT

It was presented in the article “Sex in Space” that it would be very difficult for couples to…uhum…stay connected. This doesn’t seem like much of problem to me. We already have many sex toys on the market today that individuals strap on them selves. All that would be needed is a device that both individuals could strap on together to keep them close to each other. Maybe even have the devices linked together with a high endurance rubber band to allow partners to rebound back to their partner. You know the more I think of it the more it sounds fun I think I will start working on a prototype.

Making space sexy

Kat Coburn, Boise, ID — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 04:24:21 GMT

I won't post the lyrics here as they are copyrighted, but sometime in the early 80's the following song was written: A RECONSIDERATION OF ANATOMICAL DOCKING MANEUVERS IN A ZERO-G ENVIRONMENT (aka ZERO-G SEX)
Words and music © by Diana Gallagher
All Rights Reserved

A web search might bring it up, but it is listed as filk - science fiction fandom folk songs. Those of us who have dreamed the future wonder why it took the rest of you so long to catch up.

Making space sexy

Jack Kennedy, Wise, Va. — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 04:51:04 GMT

Dr. Jim Logan seems to have been "the rage" at the NewSpace 2006 in the Sex in Space (SIS) track in as much as he brought some down-to-Earth realities to the topic. This age old topic will evolve into space leading to perhaps some human evolution in the different gravity environments of future generations.

Making space sexy

Alan Boyle — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 05:19:57 GMT

There's nothing new under the sun, even when it comes to zero-gravity sex. Here's a 1983 article that delves into much more detail on the future how-to, with links to still more articles from past years:

http://www.rfreitas.com/Astro/SexxxInSpace.htm

I also recall a patent that was issued for a sexual aid that was suggested for use in zero-G... And after puzzling around for a while, I think perhaps Patent No. 4524760 is the one I was thinking of. It's referenced in this document:

http://vsmca.tripod.com/sxd.pdf

...And is the subject of a longtime urban legend. Since one of the archived articles is from the Weekly World News, I wouldn't put much stock in it. ... Nevertheless, there are a few germs of fact to the story:

http://listserv.tamu.edu/cgi/wa?
A2=ind9803&L=folklore&T=0&P=14922

http://www.globalideasbank.org/
site/bank/idea.php?ideaId=247

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/
story/0,3605,418368,00.html

http://www.electronicareviews.com/?p=36

Making space sexy

Wayne McCoy — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 07:14:56 GMT

Oh, come on. How difficult can this be? You have a platform, one of the partners has a strap around their middle that hooks with Velcro to the platform, and uses hand and foot holds on the platform as needed. The other partner positions themself appropriately, also with some hand and foot holds to keep them in place, and docking occurs. This can be accomplished with total nudity, except for the partner with the Velcro strap. The platform would be nothing more than a sleeping area with the adaptations for lovemaking. The one "on top" (there being no up or down in 0-G) might have a little work to do stay docked, but this could be part of the exercise astronauts would use to keep themselves fit. BTW, I worked for NASA 1964-80 at KSC.

Making space sexy

Todd Bayliss — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 13:36:09 GMT

Oh come on, if you can do it under water you can do it in zero-g. Hasn't anyone ever gotten busy while skinny dipping? But if NASA ever needs volunteers to test new devices or methods...I'm willing to repeat the act as many times as it takes to get it right!

Making space sexy

a p garcia — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:22:32 GMT

I have never tried it so I can't speak from experience! The problem I see is getting connected and staying connected. I can't see a solution execpt some kind of aid to keep one person from flotting around like velcro. Of course this could be a problem on a "Spur of the momment". If this is the case there is alternative of a 3-some to keep people from flotting around and I think the "Romantic candle" won't be around in Zero G. Another reason for a 2001 space station.

Making space sexy

Steven Crum, Omaha, NE — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:45:01 GMT

One method that would accomplish likely everything needed is to have a room that has a variable speed fan that blows air into the room from that end and the air is sucked out on the other. A net is then located across the entire room and in front of the "sucking" end.

The situation then is the air flow cools bodies, sucks any moisture into the air system and filters anything out, and it quite frankly is fully adjustable so the two can make love in a full gale force storm or the gentle, soothing breezes of an island paradise beach. The arrangement also provides more terrific body contact and pressure exactly as anyone wants.

So, in my opinion, this is a piece of cake.

Making space sexy

E. Parowski — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:22:09 GMT

FYI: Standard sport parachute harness works fine - Really.

Making space sexy

Peter, Sandy Oregon — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 18:40:30 GMT

Why would it really be that hard to stay "attached"? My girl wraps her arms and legs around me... with or without gravity I couldn't get away if I tried! I think if the guy is in the footstraps and the girl has love handles... what's the problem?

I think it was the James Bond movie that really made space sex popular. Although with an odd blanket around the couple hanging down.

I think they should try the spinning space station soon but the problem is you can't have any windows because you're spinning so fast you'd get sick looking out. Also there'd be no method of EVA's so in the end why are you in space? They could rotate on of those on earth and get the same feeling. Besides, the whole point of the international space station is the zero-G research.

When Bigelow's Space Hotel is up there I think we'll get to see a lot more "research" in this area. Just hope the couples aren't shy about discussing it. When we get to the moon, oh baby that'll be fun on the bun!

Making space sexy

John Charles Webb, Jr. Maui, Hawaii — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 22:47:25 GMT

From Deep Space:
- "Honey, you are out of this world."
-- "Feeling frisky, huh Space Cadet"?
- "Yes! In space everywhere is 'up' so it is always 'up' out here."
-- "But I told you, Fly Boy, that I needed some space".
- "I can take you to Venus!"
-- "Making love with you was my first experience of light speed, Hot Shot."
- "Afterwards we can watch a movie."
-- "Hmmmmm, you know I love movies, especially Stanley
Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey."
- O.K. then, we'll do it and then watch 2001 A Space Odyssey."
-- "Kubrick thinks that we are evolved monkeys throwing technological bones into the air and you are proving it."
- "Are we near the constellation of Virgo?"
-- "Well, O.K., I get it, but can you set it on 'stun', at least once?"
- "Who should be on top?"
-- "This is space in 0 gravity, there is no 'on top'."
- "Why is this taking so long."
-- "Because of Einstein's Theory of Relativity."
- "You mean time goes slower when you are with your relatives?"
-- "My mother is not going to call, at least not this time."
- "I didn't say anything about your mother!"
-- "Yes you did, you said 'relatives' and that's my mother."
- "How about if we start by watching the movie?"
--"About monkeys who now ride technological bones into the air?"
- "Yea, just to get away from their mothers."
-- "O.K., roll the film."
- "Are my teeth clean?"
-- "Roll the film!"

Making space sexy

Gaetano Marano, Italy — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:11:02 GMT

.

Not related with sex (sorry) but...

I think that the new 5-segments SRB planned for the Ares-I and Ares-V can't work because it can't give more burning time nor more thrust (or a little more than a 4-segments version) but only more internal pressure and up to 140 mT of extra dry mass!

I explain in detail the reasons of my opinion in this article: www.gaetanomarano.it/articles/011srb5.html

Not "the better" but the ONLY choice for the Ares-I and Ares-V is the (standard) 4-segments SRB with (also) the great advantage that it is ready available NOW!

.

Making space sexy

CS Park, Detroit, MI — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:33:37 GMT

Instead of endless debate, why not ask astronauts who have been in space and have had sex, or send folks to try it out in space? Way i see it, when it comes to sex, WE WILL FIND A WAY! I think people should be more concerned with things like the government wasting money in the Iraq War.

Making space sexy

Bruce Werner — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 00:53:35 GMT

Check with the Russians, they did these experiments, a long time ago.

Making space sexy

Mickey Bruce — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 01:51:50 GMT

You know... this is something I've wondered about ever since NASA started sending up men and women into space. I find it hard to believe that they never wanted to do an experiment to see what sex was like in zero gravity. I simply can't believe NASA would miss the opportunity to test this out.

Making space sexy

Ken, Dallas, TX — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 02:53:29 GMT

The microgravity effects pertaining to this sort of thing have already been documented in the late 1990s in the adult erotic film "The Uranus Experiment". From what I understand the German adult movie company wanted to rent out the NASA 'Vomit Comet' to use for the filming of certain key scenes of the movie. NASA declined and they went with the Russians instead. It is definitely not a film for the sensitive, as it is quite explicit.

Making space sexy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 05:54:43 GMT

While there are indeed all sorts of off-the-shelf products for...restraining a person for this purpose, I suspect that appropriate foot restraint (plenty of EVA experience to draw on here) will be enough...

You can't just 'try spinning the space station' as it wasn't designed for this. But why couldn't you have windows in one that was built for this? The wider the diameter, the slower the rotation need be (and we may not need one full Earth gravity, anyway) The view (which is a large part of the reason for tourists to go there) will be that depicted in the film '2001' looking from the wheel-shaped Space Station Five.

NASA isn't about to have any open 'experiments' on zero-g sex (at least not with humans)...why hand critics another weapon to use against them? No matter how useful you or I think it would be, it would be a *very* bad PR move. Imagine:

"They spend X billions of my tax dollars just so some people can go up there, and...!"

Espically as no married couple has flown together yet. (I have to think *someone* there has given some thought to this possibility on long-term Lunar stays, Mars flights and any other deep-space missions with mixed [and just as unmarried] crews...people are still people.)

And *if* any NASA personell has ever had 'unauthorized' sex in space, I don't see them admitting it, any time before their retirement, if then. Why do something that would likely make your own career crash and burn?

We may never know the names of the first members of the '200 Mile High Club.'

Making space sexy

Wayne McCoy — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:48:48 GMT

NASA hasn't explored this because they have to deal with a prudish American public. That public went into orbit when Eugene Cernan said "sonofabitch" as he and Tom Stafford were nearly hurled off into space on Apollo 10's Lunar Module. That public (in the guise of sanctimonious ministers) also refused to approve a simple vertical mark symbolizing female genitalia on the Voyager plaque -- the male symbol was much more than a mark. And just look at the apoplectic furor over Janet Jackson's *** exposure. I rest my case.

Making space sexy

Rick, Salt Lake City, UT — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 19:10:57 GMT

Spider Robinson dealt with this topic in detail in his novel "Stardance"....

Making space sexy

Alan Boyle — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 19:51:56 GMT

Actually, there's the well-known case of STS-47 in 1992, in which married couple Mark Lee and Jan Davis did fly on the same mission. A lot of the chatter over space intimacy has focused on that mission, merely because of the marriage. Lee and Davis have since divorced.

Here's an article that touches upon STS-47 and other facets of the "sex in space" issue:

http://www.retrofuture.com/sex.html

Making space sexy

Matt, Attleboro, MA — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:06:54 GMT

Is it just me or does this seems like a non-problem.

For those less prudish, you can't tell me that you haven't tried a position that you think would work just as well, if not better, in zero G! New positions would be invented as well.

All this talk of assistance devices and tiedowns makes me laugh. You have hands right? Grab hold of your partner!

I'm betting two adventurous "every day Joes" could have sex in zero gravity just as well as any engineer or scientist with only minimal provisions.

Making space sexy

Wayne McCoy — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:46:41 GMT

You can't just grab your partner in 0-G and expect to have sex in one place. The necessary, um, thrusts will propel the bodies about the spacecraft (remember Newton's law of action/reaction), assuming that they could remain connected at all. While this might seem like fun, it could be injurious to the two partners as they carom off projecting objects in their chamber of love. Also, effective thrusts might be difficult to accomplish without something for the legs to push against. Variety will demand a number of ways of accomplishing the act, so that various devices and means need to be developed on the basis of experiment and experience. Keep in mind that not all positions will work in 0-G without some constraints. Think about Newton's Law.

The way to work it out is to have some scientists and engineers actually try it out first hand (more fun than being a voyeur for science), and let serendipity lift its lovely head.

Making space sexy

Laura Woodmansee, Pasadena, California — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:29:59 GMT

Hi! I'm Laura Woodmansee, (www.LauraWoodmansee.com) the author of the soon-to-be-released book, "Sex in Space!" I've been following the cosmic log and just wanted you all to know that reading your thoughtful (and sometimes silly) conversations here makes me even more certain that now is truly the correct time to publish this book. Space sex is something that our civilization needs to talk about if we are to become happy space tourists and space settlers. Thanks to all of you for getting the conversation started on this serious and fun topic, especially Alan Boyle.
- Laura Woodmansee, Author of "Sex in Space"
P.S. It turns out that there really IS new (serious and fun) information about sex in space after all. Enjoy :)

Making space sexy

Dean Landrum — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:57:18 GMT

Wayne, I don't think the thrust you're thinking of will cause anyone to carom off of anything. The key is to start off in the center of the room, with zero velocity relative to the love chamber. Gyrate all you want while floating and you will not go anywhere. As long as the two remain connected (i.e. a single object), the net energy transfer will be zero regardless of the amount of "thrusting" that occurs.

You mention "Newton's Law;" I assume you are referring to Newton's Laws of Motion. The first law states that every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. A copulating couple in this scenario would be considered a single object as long as they are holding on to each other. Thus there is no "external force;" all the force remains internal to the object. The only thing that would cause propulsion would be heavy breathing, or if one of the partners were to pass gas, thus invoking Newton's Third Law. But even that amount of true thrust would be minuscule compared to the mass of the couple, causing them to slowly drift away from the center. They would easily be spent and exhausted before they gently bumped into any projecting object.