Boing Boing: Sex in space. No, seriously.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Sex in space. No, seriously.

The subject of human sexual behavior in microgravity is sparking renewed attention for several reasons, explains MSNBC science writer Alan Boyle:

...including next month's publication of a book by Laura Woodmansee titled "Sex in Space," as well as billionaire Robert Bigelow's plan to host research into animal propagation on his commercial space modules. After all, sometime in the next decade Bigelow Aerospace envisions putting a hotel complex in orbit, "where people will probably be recreating and having sex," [space-erotica-fiction writer Vanna] Bonta said.

But the fantasy of spacefucking may be better than the real thing -- without careful choreography and helpful gear, physics get in the way. First, there's that microgravity-barfing connection. But then, Boyle writes...

Sex in space would likely be "hotter and wetter" than on Earth, Bonta said, because in zero-G there is no natural convection to carry away body heat. Also, scientists have found that people tend to perspire more in microgravity. The moisture associated with sexual congress could pool as floating droplets.

Hotter and wetter sex in this case being, apparently, a bad thing.

I went on a zero-gravity flight once with a bunch of astronauts and journalists. Also on board were two guys who won tickets on a radio contest. If memory serves, one of them worked in an auto shop. I was talking with them between floating parabolas, and one of them made a joke about sex in space, and I asked something like -- are you guys thinking about that, really? Because all I could think about at the time was not vomiting or bonking my head on the roof when I flew through the air. Sex was the last thing on my mind. The two guys looked at each other and were silent for a moment. Then they burst into extended dude-laughter, and one said, "Well OF COURSE! Guys always think about that!"

Image above, Vanna Bonta sketch for her "2suit" garment: "includes Velcro strips, zippers and diaphanous inner material that would be designed for intimacy in the near-weightless environment of space." Link to story (Thanks, Violet).

Over at Terrestrial Musings blog, live notes on the "Sex in Space" panel yesterday at the Space Frontier Foundation's NewSpace 2006 conference.

Laura Woodmansee talking about her book on the subject. Not a scientist, but has a deep interest in science and space. Subject makes everyone giggle. But humans take their sexuality everywhere they go. It's going to happen, there will be weddings and honeymoons in orbit, and we have to start taking it seriously. Book is about both the fund part and the serious part. Looking at the future as a mother, and the concerns about gestating and raising children in that environment.
First chapter is about the question everyone wants to know. Many rumors exist. There was controversy about Mark Lee and Jan Davis, a married couple went into space, and declined interviews. Another issue is pr0n in space. There was an attempt to do a film on Mir, but it didn't work out. She wishes that it had happened, because it might have generated interest in space. Quote from Gene Roddenberry--"I guarantee you it happened, for no reasons other than common sense."

Link (thanks, Coop)

Update: Violet Blue posts a HOWTO here. Snip:

(Please) tie me to the console and fuck my brains out. This is the natural next step for space sex: bondage. No, you won't need to know which pocket to flag your synthetic space hanky in, or need to know BDSM scenester lingo to get laid in the spacepod, but a little forethought about restraint is going to be the name of the game (...) because while floating in zero G you need to use stationary objects to move, period.

Update 2: If there's sex in space, there's abstinence in space. Snip from a ~~dead-serious~~ satirical blog post by a fellow who read this BoingBoing item, and found it troubling. He implores would-be starfuckers to preserve the sacredness of carnal congregation, and even then -- never on anything but terra firma:

The sexual act should be performed only by married couples in an attempt to breed. (...) I urge you to never, ever have sex in space, unless you are married, and having sex in order to produce a child. But for God’s sake — and I mean that literally: for God’s sake — don’t you dare enjoy it. Because then it’s a sin.

Link

Reader comment: BoingBoing reader John D. Verne says,

Reading this reminded me of Rudy Rucker's "Rapture in Space" which I first read in Semiotext(e) 14 SF collection. He makes zero-G sex sounds like a lot of work, which may not be too far off the mark. Other than Star Trek TOS stories, with Kirk having a green or purple chick in many ports of call, I guess I'd never read SF that acknowledged that human space travel would be, well, human.

posted by Xeni Jardin at 07:13:26 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

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Support Bloggers' Rights! HOWTO: Get a link posted to Boing Boing Boing Boing Mobile powered by Winksite Fark rules! This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution. Boing Boing is a trademark of Happy Mutants LLC in the United States [and other countries]. Stats (About our stats) defeat censorware Policies Our first five years' worth of posts in one file	Monday, July 24, 2006 Sex in space. No, seriously. The subject of human sexual behavior in microgravity is sparking renewed attention for several reasons, explains MSNBC science writer Alan Boyle: ...including next month's publication of a book by Laura Woodmansee titled "Sex in Space," as well as billionaire Robert Bigelow's plan to host research into animal propagation on his commercial space modules. After all, sometime in the next decade Bigelow Aerospace envisions putting a hotel complex in orbit, "where people will probably be recreating and having sex," [space-erotica-fiction writer Vanna] Bonta said. But the fantasy of spacefucking may be better than the real thing -- without careful choreography and helpful gear, physics get in the way. First, there's that microgravity-barfing connection. But then, Boyle writes... Sex in space would likely be "hotter and wetter" than on Earth, Bonta said, because in zero-G there is no natural convection to carry away body heat. Also, scientists have found that people tend to perspire more in microgravity. The moisture associated with sexual congress could pool as floating droplets. Hotter and wetter sex in this case being, apparently, a bad thing. I went on a zero-gravity flight once with a bunch of astronauts and journalists. Also on board were two guys who won tickets on a radio contest. If memory serves, one of them worked in an auto shop. I was talking with them between floating parabolas, and one of them made a joke about sex in space, and I asked something like -- are you guys thinking about that, really? Because all I could think about at the time was not vomiting or bonking my head on the roof when I flew through the air. Sex was the last thing on my mind. The two guys looked at each other and were silent for a moment. Then they burst into extended dude-laughter, and one said, "Well OF COURSE! Guys always think about that!" Image above, Vanna Bonta sketch for her "2suit" garment: "includes Velcro strips, zippers and diaphanous inner material that would be designed for intimacy in the near-weightless environment of space." Link to story (Thanks, Violet). Over at Terrestrial Musings blog, live notes on the "Sex in Space" panel yesterday at the Space Frontier Foundation's NewSpace 2006 conference. Laura Woodmansee talking about her book on the subject. Not a scientist, but has a deep interest in science and space. Subject makes everyone giggle. But humans take their sexuality everywhere they go. It's going to happen, there will be weddings and honeymoons in orbit, and we have to start taking it seriously. Book is about both the fund part and the serious part. Looking at the future as a mother, and the concerns about gestating and raising children in that environment. First chapter is about the question everyone wants to know. Many rumors exist. There was controversy about Mark Lee and Jan Davis, a married couple went into space, and declined interviews. Another issue is pr0n in space. There was an attempt to do a film on Mir, but it didn't work out. She wishes that it had happened, because it might have generated interest in space. Quote from Gene Roddenberry--"I guarantee you it happened, for no reasons other than common sense." Link (thanks, Coop) Update: Violet Blue posts a HOWTO here. Snip: (Please) tie me to the console and fuck my brains out. This is the natural next step for space sex: bondage. No, you won't need to know which pocket to flag your synthetic space hanky in, or need to know BDSM scenester lingo to get laid in the spacepod, but a little forethought about restraint is going to be the name of the game (...) because while floating in zero G you need to use stationary objects to move, period. Update 2: If there's sex in space, there's abstinence in space. Snip from a ~~dead-serious~~ satirical blog post by a fellow who read this BoingBoing item, and found it troubling. He implores would-be starfuckers to preserve the sacredness of carnal congregation, and even then -- never on anything but terra firma: The sexual act should be performed only by married couples in an attempt to breed. (...) I urge you to never, ever have sex in space, unless you are married, and having sex in order to produce a child. But for God’s sake — and I mean that literally: for God’s sake — don’t you dare enjoy it. Because then it’s a sin. Link Reader comment: BoingBoing reader John D. Verne says, Reading this reminded me of Rudy Rucker's "Rapture in Space" which I first read in Semiotext(e) 14 SF collection. He makes zero-G sex sounds like a lot of work, which may not be too far off the mark. Other than Star Trek TOS stories, with Kirk having a green or purple chick in many ports of call, I guess I'd never read SF that acknowledged that human space travel would be, well, human. posted by Xeni Jardin at 07:13:26 AM permalink \| Other blogs' comments Email this entry to: Your email address: Message (optional):	Boing Boing Sponsored by: Your Text Ad Here Get BB by email: