Sex in SPACE: Scientists call for urgent research on the consequences of joining the ‘Karman line club’ – as they claim intercourse will happen between space tourists within 10 years

From Star Trek to Passengers, sex in space has been depicted in sci-fi blockbusters for years.

And while NASA categorically maintains that “no human has had sex in space,” that could soon change with the proliferation of space tourism.

Private space companies, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, are now offering civilians the chance to go into space, albeit at a hefty price.

With this new era of spaceflight, David Cullen, a professor of bioanalytical engineering at Cranfield University, is calling for urgent research into the consequences of sex in space.

“My colleagues and I believe that space tourism companies have not sufficiently prepared for the consequences of people joining what we might call the ‘Kármán line club,'” he wrote in an article for The conversation.

The Kármán line is a boundary at 100 kilometers above sea level that marks the beginning of space.

While NASA doesn’t explicitly prohibit sex in space, the astronaut code of conduct calls for “relationships of trust” and “professional standards” at all times.

The space agency has also banned all married couples from going into space together – though this is mostly due to group dynamics, rather than ensuring they have sex.

Despite this, Professor Cullen claims that sex in space will take place within ten years.

“Given that space travel is no longer the preserve of professional astronauts, the varying motivations of space tourists, and upcoming developments in spacecraft, we concluded that sex in space is likely to occur within the next decade,” he wrote.

But sex in space won’t be easy.

Speaking to MailOnline, Professor Anja Geitmann, dean of the Department of Plant Sciences at McGill University in Montreal, who has done extensive research on sex in space, explained that the the main problem would be ‘that the partners try to stay in physical proximity, since one cannot rely on gravity to push one partner against the other’.

“Another issue would be avoiding bumping your head, because again, there’s no gravity to keep the partners from drifting away from each other and into the nearest obstacle with every move,” she added.

From Star Trek to Passengers (pictured), sex in space has been depicted in sci-fi blockbusters for years

Lack of gravity not only affects physical movements, but can also cause problems in the body.

According to Lori Meggs of AI Signal Research, space blood circulation is compromised and it can become difficult for a man to get an erection.

In an article for NASA, she said, “There is no gravity to pull blood to the lower part of the body. Instead, the blood rushes to the chest and head, causing astronauts to have swollen faces and bulging blood vessels in their necks.”

While sex in space has yet to take place, Professor Cullen argues that the sexual interactions themselves are not the real concern.

Instead, he says research is needed on the effects of human conception in space.

“Early space tourism flights are expected to take days to weeks, so only the early stages of human reproduction can take place in space,” he explained.

Passengers are not allowed to board if they are already pregnant, although the space tourism industry does not appear to have considered hidden or unknown pregnancies. Sometimes women only realize they are pregnant when they give birth.’

Research has shown that space flight can have a major impact on the human body.

For example, previous studies have revealed how astronauts who spend long periods in space may experience weaker bones and muscles, have blurred vision and even have a higher risk of cancer.

In 2016, Chinese scientists grew mouse embryos in space and found that some successfully developed into globules of cells called blastocysts.

However, it remains unclear whether it is safe to grow human embryos in space.

‘There is an unknown potential for developmental defects in human embryos conceived in space,’ said Professor Cullen.

“In addition, there may be an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy in weightlessness (when the embryo attaches outside the uterus, for example in the fallopian tubes).”

While you might think the obvious solution would be to provide astronauts with birth control, Professor Cullen says this isn’t a safe solution.

“Even if space tourists use birth control, we can’t be sure it will be as effective off planet Earth,” he added.

“No research has been done on the influence of contraceptives by space environments.”

Amid the rise of space tourism, Professor Cullen suggests that private space companies urgently need to come together to develop a strategy.

“A simple solution could be a combination of pre-spaceflight counseling with all space tourists about the risks of human conception in space,” he said.

“Statutory waivers that absolve space tourism operators from liability if human conception still occurs could also be considered.”