In 2015, Pornhub set out to do something no one has done- film an X-rated video in space. Embarking on a “sexploration”, Pornhub would be training its crew members, investing in specialized high-tech gear, and sending pornstars Eva Lovia and Johnny Sins into space to film the world’s first adult film IN space. Pornhub set up a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, hoping to amass roughly $3.4M in donations to make this dream a reality. In the end, they were only able to earn $236,086, only 6% of their goal. The concept of sex in space is not a concept created by Pornhub. There’s a whole discipline dedicated to sex, sexuality, and intimacy outside of Planet Earth. Coined “space sexology”, researchers and scientists aim to take a look at sex away from our homeland, and the benefits and/or risks of partaking in the activity.
WHAT IS SPACE SEXOLOGY and astrosexology?
Space sexology, also referred to as astrosexology, is described as “the comprehensive scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy and sexuality.” The concept has become of greater relevance over the past few years as the push to have humans settle and reside on other planets in the solar system. Elon Musk, a mogul in the space exploration industry, has gone on the record multiple times to say living on Mars could be possible by the 2060s, courtesy of SpaceX. The topic of sex in space, however, has been firmly omitted and severely under-researched by NASA. In 2008, NASA spokesman for Johnson Space Center Bill Jeffs stated “We don’t study sexuality in space, and we don’t have any studies ongoing with that. If that’s your specific topic, there’s nothing to discuss.” The hesitancy comes from the taboo nature of sex and the fact that NASA takes taxpayers to fund its projects. In 2010, a commander at NASA stated there was a ban on astronaut sex, widening the gap between what is known and what came to be known.
The discipline of space sexology emerges from the uncertainty and limited knowledge of what happens to individuals with prolonged exposure to outer space and calls for research dedicated to figuring this out. How can we be expected to go into space without understanding the repercussions it will have on our sexual bodies and our sexuality and eroticism as a whole? These are the questions researchers have been urging NASA to address.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY about sex in space?
A YouTube video titled “How Does it Feel Like to Have Sex in Space?” takes a conversational and informative tone about the probability of sex in space. The video discusses all facets of the matter, from what would happen physiologically during the act of intercourse, to the act of “having sex” and the working dynamic between crewmates as an example. This video is perfect to dip your toes into the conversation of space sexology.
Maria Santaguida and Simon Dubé compiled what is known about sexual health in space and space travel. Across 5 years of academia publications, Santaguida and Dubé dwindled it to 11 main topics that have emerged. For example, the topics of radiation and gravity all discuss the biological effects of life on space, suggesting life outside of Earth can come with a plethora of physical complications that have not been fully understood or researched. Among some, complications with childbirth and pregnancies can arise as a result of the changes in gravitational pull, while the radiation in space can lead to damage to the reproductive organs of both males and females.
Sexual urges and responses are not suppressed in space
When it comes to sexual responses and behaviors in space, evidence shows that sexual urges and responses are not suppressed while in space. However, as far as researchers are aware, sex has not occurred there yet. Information about arousal and other body responses therefore have not been explored enough. An article published by The Conversation explores this idea of what happens when astronauts begin to feel aroused amid NASA’s unwillingness to study sexuality in space. Yet, there are more hypothetical questions that are created than solutions.
There is one solution posed. It centers around the conversation of technology and how there needs to be a way to promote and carry out processes that are important for reproductive health as well as be sexually stimulating like sex toys. “Erobots” could be a possible solution to help combat astronauts’ sexual desires. The term is used to describe virtual and augmented artificial erotic agents, such as sex robots, or erotic chatbots. The technology of these “erobots” would be specifically tailored to each individual who uses it, and some of them include: (1) helping cope with isolation and loneliness during space travel, (2) mimicking the social relationship of a partner, and (3) providing a sexual outlet.
BUT WHAT ABOUT ACTUAL SEX AND THE FUTURE OF SPACE SEXOLOGY?
Despite NASA having a strict policy on space, there have been numerous rumors of “funny” business occurring during space missions, however, this has never been confirmed by NASA themselves. In 1992, newlywed cosmonauts Jan Davis and Mark Lee served on a mission together yet avoided any questions regarding their intimate life on the mission. Another cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov recommended a sex doll to combat any urges he develops and a collection of x-rated films on his 437-day journey.
The size of the aircraft these astronauts use to travel also poses a challenge to the prospect of sex in space; the size of these aircrafts are so compact they only afford room for the necessities to survive and have no privacy. There have even been people who have tried to investigate for themselves. Writer Vanna Bonta, author of the novel Flight, made some observations about romance and sex in zero-G. Among her findings, she notes that the mechanics of sex are more complicated, and staying connected is more challenging. In addition, Bonta notes that body parts (i.e. the ween) may appear smaller due to microgravity and sex might be wetter and hotter as it is difficult to carry away body heat.
Talking about the future of space sexology
When talking about the future of space sexology, Maria Santaguida and Simon Dubé along with other researchers came up with a biopsychosocial framework to help formulate an agenda on this topic. They acknowledge all the risks to intimacy, reproductive health, and the biology of humans. Yet, this model provides a scientific approach to this topic, illustrating its importance on all factors and all the components that come together to make it a discipline worth investigating. This model is used to bridge experts from multiple disciplines (ex: biologist, psychologist, sexologist, etc) to collaborate and explore the effects of sex on space. These researchers include an important point in their article. They state:
“...it may be useful to remind national and private space organizations that access to intimacy and sexuality is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right..” This is what the essence of gender and sexuality studies is, recognizing the innate desire and process that is sex. To dismiss this or deny us the opportunity to learn about it, especially with the prospect of relocating to another planet would be set back how far the subject has come. With this model in mind, we as possible space travelers can start to do our own research on what sex on space would be like, even if it’s lightyears away.
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Written by: Destiny