by William S. Dean
(08/09/06)
"Weightlessness will bring new forms of erotica. About time, too."
--Arthur C. Clarke
"The room spins deliriously around you. Floating nearby, beside, above and below you, a room full of warm, naked people bumping, thrashing and whirling delightfully in mid-air. Like a sophomore's wet dream, you are adrift in a delicious sea of friendly faces, hands, breasts and legs. Through the tumbling mass of smooth flesh you catch glimpses of a familiar blue-white orb outside the window of your room.
"It is Earth."
So wrote Robert A. Freitas Jr. in his article "Sex in Space" for the magazine Sexology Today (April, 1983). Interestingly -- or perhaps predictably -- Freitas was already a decade behind predecessor Isaac Asimov's "Sex in a Spaceship," published by Sexology in January, 1973.
The probing of science fiction authors -- from A. Merritt's The Ship of Ishtar in 1924 to today's crop of sci-fi erotica authors like M. Christian and Cecilia Tan -- have dealt with the permutations that might occur when randy heroes and heroines have shuffled off the gravity of our small green-blue planet. Perhaps we can't help wondering if space orgasms would be nova-like or if we might be able to perform those twisty Kama Sutra positions in zero G. What else is left, after all, when apparently humans have done the naughty bits in almost every conceivable place on Earth?
Of course, films and television series have hinted. Didn't Star Trek's Captain Kirk always seem to be bedding down some ensign, guest, or alien hottie? Not to mention all the parodic porn flicks loosely based on Barbarella or some other galactic orgy of sensual couplings.
This, however, is the non-fiction section of Clean Sheets, so we must return our attention more to the factual than the speculative. As we update to contemporary writings, we find, indeed, that another author expands on Freitas' article with a full-length book with the same title. Sex in Space, released in August, 2006 by Apogee Books, is a work by science journalist, entrepreneur, volunteer Solar System Ambassador, and member of the National Association of Science Writers, Laura S. Woodmansee.
Clean Sheets (CS): As a professional author about space and astronautical subjects, what prompted you to take on such a fascinating "side-topic" as sex in space?
Laura S. Woodmansee (LSW): Well, as a journalist who writes about space all the time, I thought that, at a time when space tourism is about to blast into being, that it was so odd that no one was talking about sex in space. I heard and read about people, couples, who want to take a honeymoon or romantic vacation in space, but avoided the topic of sex.
Of course, this is probably because many people are still embarrassed by sex. That's okay, but if you're planning to go on a space vacation and have sex, you need to know how it's going to be different, what to expect, what may be better, and what may not be so great. Also, there was a lack of interest in what might happen if a woman got pregnant on a space vacation, or a woman astronaut on a long space mission. It's one thing when you are an adult taking a risk yourself, but once you consider a new life with no say in the matter, then you're crossing the line. It may be that it's okay to get pregnant in Earth orbit where the radiation dose is higher than on Earth, but not as high as it is further out in space. But, we just don't know the answer. So, before risking a child's health and happiness, we'd better find out. I think what's going to happen is space travelers will need to do all they can to avoid getting pregnant in space, period. So, really, I was motivated to write by my curiosity about otherworldly sex and as a mom, my concern for children of the future.
CS: The imagination of the general public, I suppose, has been interested in what sex in space would be like since the early days of science-fiction and a few authors have attempted their versions of depicting it. What are some of the physical realities that would govern having sex in space? For example, I guess the "pulling out" method wouldn't work because the sperm in zero G would just float around?
LSW: That's a good point! Sex in space would be messy. Orbital shrinkage is a bit of a concern. The fact that an erect penis in space is less "full" than it would be on Earth may make sex a little different for the partners involved. But, condoms should still work in space. Besides, everyone knows that the withdrawal method is not perfect. Even before ejaculation, there is semen exiting the penis.
CS: Apart from the problem of long flight time in space or "recreation," what would be the purpose of sex in space?
LSW: The purpose of sex in space would be the same as sex on Earth. Wherever people go, we will take our sexuality with us. And we will have sex in space for all the different reasons we have it here on Earth. I don't see that changing. But people will change physically as we settle our nearby planets and beyond. Just being in a different environment has caused changes to different human populations in the past. And space is a very different place than anywhere on Earth, so there will be some serious changes. Of course, bioengineering might save our species in the long run, allowing us to live in environments that we can't survive in right now. I think technology will really save us in space.
CS: How technical is your book? Will the average reader be able to grasp the ins and outs of physical sex in space?
LSW: Sex in Space is written for everyone. There are some technical tidbits in the book, but they directly relate to sex and romance in space. So, what technical stuff there is, I've written in plain English for everyone to understand, but I never talk down to my readers. It's fun to write when you have multiple audiences to reach. For this book, that is everyone from the "rocket scientist" to the casual reader. This book is made for anyone interested in sex in space.
CS: Of course, the question of the hour is, are your interpretations of what sex in space would be like at this point in time, theoretical or have their actually been earth-bound experiments involving real people in "space-like" conditions?
LSW: Well, the space agencies haven't prohibited it, and the astronauts themselves are not talking. But there are some intriguing rumors that I reveal about in my Sex in Space book, as well as some ridiculous rumors too.
CS: In your experienced and considered opinion, how long do you think it will be before the space programs of the U.S. and other nations will include experiments about having sex in space?
LSW: Honestly, I don't think that the space agencies of the world will ever conduct "sex in space" experiments. There's too much controversy about sex and the agencies don't see sex as an important subject. A large portion of tax-payers would object and NASA especially doesn't want their funding to be cut over a controversial matter, or over any matter really.
I think what will happen is that the space hotel creators -- like Bigelow Aerospace -- will put up the first space hotels and the adult film industry will rent out the place to film porno movies. And I think that that's what will really get the space vacation business going for private individuals too. As several people that I interviewed for the book pointed out, sex drives our technology. The Internet and DVDs are good examples.
CS: I understand that your husband is a "Rocket Scientist." Would you and he -- if the opportunity was presented -- have sex in space?
LSW: Of course! After writing a book called Sex in Space, how can I say no? Seriously, I would be very careful not to get pregnant, however. But that would be my only concern.
CS: What are the promotional plans for your book? Will you be giving presentations, and, if so, what kinds of questions do you think people will ask?
LSW: I've given a few presentations about Sex in Space so far and want to do more. It's interesting, at the NewSpace conference, I was on a panel about sex in space and people came up to me afterward and asked me blunt questions about masturbation in space. But it was an open forum and people were much less candid, asking medical questions mostly to the doctor on the panel. But when it's one-on-one, people ask me some juicy questions.
CS: Are there comments in Sex in Space that can help people in having pleasurable earth-bound sex, too?
LSW: I've tried to make Sex in Space fun and I've been told that it's a racy little book that gives the reader lots of ideas for sex on Earth. That's quite a complement. The book is educational as well as fun, because while we giggle over certain aspects, there is a serious side too. That said, it's not a dry, boring textbook, it's full of serious as well as fun facts about sex on Earth and the possibilities of sex and reproduction in Earth orbit and beyond.
CS: Inevitably, books such as Sex in Space, once they are out in the general public become fodder for late night comics, parodies, and satires. Do you think comedy is a good way for people to feel more comfortable with the concept of people in space having sex?
LSW: I think comedy and sex are intimately related, pardon the pun. Wow, I hope the late night comics, etc. joke about the book and all the issues involved with sex in space. That would mean that my messages are getting through to real people. Comedy relaxes people and still gets them to think about things in a new way. I hope they joke about this book, too -- besides it's great publicity!
Visit Laura S. Woodmansee's Web site.
