Astronauts test sex in space -- but did the earth move?

[SallyMander]

US and Russian astronauts have had sex in space for separate research programmes on how human beings might survive years in orbit, according to a book published yesterday.

Pierre Kohler, a respected French scientific writer, says in The Final Mission: Mir, The Human Adventure that the subject is taboo both at Nasa and at mission control in Moscow, but that cosmic couplings have taken place.

...

He cites a confidential Nasa report on a space shuttle mission in 1996. A project codenamed STS-XX was to explore sexual positions possible in a weightless atmosphere.

Twenty positions were tested by computer simulation to obtain the best 10, he says. "Two guinea pigs then tested them in real zero-gravity conditions. The results were videotaped but are considered so sensitive that even Nasa was only given a censored version."

Only four positions were found possible without "mechanical assistance". The other six needed a special elastic belt and inflatable tunnel, like an open-ended sleeping bag.

Mr Kohler says: "One of the principal findings was that the classic so-called missionary position, which is so easy on earth when gravity pushes one downwards, is simply not possible."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2000/feb/24/spaceexploration.internationalnews1


I can't help but wonder about the meeting where NASA proposed this study to the participants... ;)

[itsrobert]

1. Big waste of money

that is all.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. NASA paid $500 for each condom.

Can't trust that Russian sheepgut.

[ddeclue]

53. Those space condoms have to operate in a complete vacuum

where the difference between light and dark is 500 degrees, subjected to gamma radiation and from zero g to 6 g conditions!

:rofl:

[Xithras]

13. No more or less than any other government stimulus program.

Which is EXACTLY what NASA is. A government stimulus program designed to encourage job growth and development in the science and aerospace fields. Every dollar that they spend goes into the pocket of an American worker.

[The Backlash Cometh]

37. I'm with you.

We'll just sit here until the aliens finally contact us and tell us everything we need to know about space travel.

:eyes:

[berni_mccoy]

15. Make Love, Not War.

[Exultant Democracy]

16. I have to disagree. It is interesting science and probably the cheapest experiment

they ever did in space.

What is wrong with finding out more about the effects of zero g on people?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

25. If you're looking at putting people in space for long periods, sexuality is an issue.

[Politicub]

2. gives the "big bang" a whole new meaning!

nyuk nyuk nyuk...

:spank:

[CTyankee]

47. and a new dimension to the "Mile High Club" nt

[pipi_k]

3. that solves the argument over who's on top, anyway...

:7

[Robb]

5. This seems unlikely.

More interesting to me is the psychology behind the seemingly unending public appetite for "secret sex in space" stories.

[Enrique]

6. lol, I thought they meant real guinea pigs

I was going to ask, how did they get guinea pigs to do 20 sexual positions? :crazy:

[One of Many]

10. Compliments..

..and wine coolers, doy!

[Xolodno]

7. I bet the sex was out of this world!!!!

[Bicoastal]

8. It was for RESEARCH! Yeah, that's what it was.

We were experimenting to see if Cosmonaut Natascha and I could have dirty, nasty, filthy sex in space, just like we could on Earth--which we would never do, because what would would science learn from that?

That's all it was, honey. So...friends?

[Archae]

9. I call bullshit.

Back when I was a kid, ham radio buffs would pick up signals from Russian satellites, and lots of rumors about dead cosmonauts would pop up.

This sounds as credible as those old rumors.

[kimmylavin]

50. They're not rumors.

My dad worked comm for the Navy in the 60's, stationed in Alaska.
They heard a LOT of these.

[Xithras]

11. Sort of an open secret.

The first American sex in space happened during a shuttle mission in 1992 (STS-47), when two married astronauts were launched on the same flight. The media, at the time, asked point blank if they would be attempting to have sex in space, and NASA simply refused to comment on the subject. Everyone knew what that meant...if they weren't, NASA would have simply said no.

In 1996, STS-78 was launched with the Spacelab module and spent its orbital time doing research on human physiology in space for long duration missions. It's long been rumored that Susan Helms, a single woman, had sex with one of her male counterparts on that flight as part of the mission. As the only woman on the flight, it's easy to determine that she was one half of the experiment, but the other half is a little harder to pin down. In all probability, it was Linnehan, the younger of the single men on board. NASA has been a lot more tight lipped about that one, as the two astronauts were unmarried and they feared political fallout from conservatives.

This information isn't exactly a secret, but it's not something that NASA discusses in any kind of public forum. It's legitimate research though...if humans are going to spend time in space, they're eventually going to have sex there. It's better to discover any risks or requirements in a controlled environment than to wait until our first astronauts are halfway to Mars and we hear, "Houston, we have a problem..."

[conscious evolution]

17. I have to agree

Humans are going to have sex anywhere,anytime,including in space.Better to learn about the effects now.

I remember hearing that the russians did some tests concerning pregnant women in space back in the eighties.One thing learned is that the lack of gravity can lead to birth defects and medical problems for the mother. Don't know how true this is but it is a legitimate area of study if humans plan on conducting long term deep space missions.

[MicaelS]

23. Have you ever heard of the Three Dolphin Club?

Supposedly a select group of those who have had sex in space. They wear a pin with three dolphins. The idea is you need a third partner to help, since it would be like having sex underwater, and sometimes dolphins have reportedly use a third to achieve coitus.

http://www.michaelbehar.com/outside/sexinspace.html

The prevailing workaround is the Three Dolphin Technique, proposed by sci-fi author G. Harry Stine, who claimed that dolphins mate in threes: A male and female pair off while a third nudges the couple together to avert coitus interruptus.

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

[Xithras]

26. I've seen it mentioned, but it's probably a myth.

First, it's unlikely that there have been more than a handful of Americans who have had sex in space. Quite possibly only the four on the two missions I mentioned above. Spacecraft are small places that seriously lack in privacy.

Second, NASA spends a lot of time on its image, and there are good reasons why they don't discuss these sorts of things (they have enough trouble getting funding from Congress without the added headache of the conservative rabble trying to pit the Rethugs against them). There is no way they would permit their astronauts to wear a "pin" that all but confirms the astronauts sexual activities in space. There's certainly no way they would hand them out.

[MicaelS]

27. OK, I'll buy that....

You seem very knowledgeable about the subject, so I'll defer to you.

[Xithras]

43. I am merely a lifelong space geek.

So much so that I'm planning a trip to Florida in September just to watch the last shuttle launch.

[shadowknows69]

30. Awwwkward. Unless you're into the whole threesome thing of course.

We must have us some swinging astronauts. Can you fill out a NASA app online?

[begin_within]

60. Ground Control to Major Tom

Ground control to major Tom
Ground control to major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
(Ten) Ground control (Nine) to major Tom (Eight)
(Seven, six) Commencing countdown (Five), engines on (Four)
(Three, two) Check ignition (One) and may gods (Blastoff) love be with you

This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare

This is major Tom to ground control, I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Here am I floatin' 'round my tin can far above the world
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles, I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows
Ground control to major Tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you...
Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

[Aristus]

52. Yeah, I'll BET they feared fall-out...

:P

[Lorien]

59. Geez, as a Nation we were more adult about human sexuality in the 70's or even

60's than we have been since the Reagan era. It's rampant in pop culture, but then scientists can't bring themselves to speak of it. :eyes:

[shadowknows69]

12. Hey, just like any workplace you're already going to have colleagues doing each other.

Just send round the anonymous questionaire and pick your crew.

[Xolodno]

14. I wonder if they found out if the "money shot" was possible?

[mainer]

18. I really doubt this

No privacy. No showers. And then the astronauts agree to have it on videotape?

Sounds like journalists are just a little too gullible.

[gmoney]

19. "In space, no one can hear you scream..."

OMIGOD OMIGOD OMIGOD!

[HopeHoops]

20. Hell, I'd volunteer for that!

I'm sure my wife would love trying it.

[UTUSN]

21. Yuck!1 It was bad enough learning about their bathroom/diaper habits!1 n/t

[Missy Vixen]

22. Does this put a whole new spin on the astronaut love-triangle thing?

So, NASA's been testing this out, huh? How many of those astronauts were involved with other people at the time, or am I the only one to wonder about this?

Hmmm.

[truedelphi]

56. Oh maybe.

It does seem rather elementary doesn't it?

[edbermac]

24. "Buckaroo, you forgot your thruster."

"Why don't you hold onto it for a while?"

[snooper2]

28. First thing that cums to mind..

is what happens if you pull out :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[derby378]

29. "Inflatable tunnel?"

Sounds like a cross between a sex toy and a bounce tent for children's birthday parties.

[inna]

33. Exactly. I thought it was pretty funny.

[Baclava]

31. Hell ya! Take that you Reptilian fukers - mammalian spawn is the best!

I have faith our breeders will send out our seed to rule the galaxy!

[inna]

32. Wow, worth kicking and reccing!

That's pretty interesting and funny!

[HipChick]

34. Article is 10yrs old..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

36. I have never heard of this, so it's news to me!

:rofl:

[SallyMander]

41. LOL! Sorry about this!!!

One of my science sources on Twitter just posted it today -- and I didn't even look at the date! Will be more careful next time! :blush:

[undeterred]

35. ok, but what if someone doesn't want sex with a guinea pig?

:hide:

[unblock]

46. what kind of freakazoids are you thinking of???

EVERYBODY wants sex with a guinea pig!!!

:evilgrin:

[undeterred]

49. In space everyone has their own sexual guinea pig partner

and nobody can hear you scream!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

38. It brings a whole new meaning to "Houston, we have lift off"

:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

39. 10 positions in space? While weight less? I gotta see this.

Spooning (or "the lazy dog," as comedian Ron White calls it) would be the most obvious method. There might be one or two variations of that, but other typical positions (such as missionary) would not seem to work very well.

I'd think they'd need to be strapped together.

I'm gonna vote for the Lazy Dog position.

[rug]

40. Coitus interruptus could get dicey in zero gravity.

[MilesColtrane]

42. Reverse Space Cowgirl...

I bet is one of the four.

[JBoy]

44. Russians had the first doggy in space

[RoadRage]

45. So THIS is why she drove 1,000 miles to FL in depends...

Evidently the "Astronaut Sex Team" didn't go as well in space.. and she wasn't happy that she didn't get an encour performance when they got back to earth. :)

[Soylent Brice]

48. that would make a GREAT porno.

[ddeclue]

51. Perhaps that's why Jan Davis and Mark Lee were sent up on STS-47 back in the 90's

First married couple in space.. as I recall they are fellow Georgia Tech alums.

Go Jackets... Sting'em... :rofl:

[Ignis]

54. "a special elastic belt and inflatable tunnel"

Sounds like a regular night at Chez Ignis. ;)

[Berry Cool]

55. Biggest problem with sex in space:

The wet spot keeps floating around.

[Monk06]

57. On the upside, it's easier to do "the Helicoptor"

[cliffordu]

58. I always wanted to be an astronaut.

[Echo In Light]

61. Missionary: In Space no One Can Hear You Yawn

[JHB]

62. The Earth's always moving

It's a horny planet.