GabyPeople have a knack for intimacy in unlikely places. Therefore, there is a significant likelihood that with the further development of the space tourism industry, the first sex in space will occur. However, scientists believe that space tourism companies have not adequately prepared for the possible consequences of human existence in space. This primarily refers to the 100-kilometer boundary between Earth and outer space.
Space tourism is no longer a fantasy.
Conversations about space travel have always been about the distant future. However, suborbital space tourism – short flights with only a few minutes spent in space experiencing weightlessness – already exists. The cost of such a trip ranges from free tickets to millions of dollars.
Much longer space flights are just around the corner. Companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX have significant experience in developing spacecraft and are advancing faster than the public sector. The larger and more powerful Starship spacecraft from SpaceX is likely to be operating regularly in the next few years.
Flights have been booked and passenger lists compiled for private flights that will loop around the Moon. The same Starship spacecraft will be able to accommodate dozens of space travelers in a large cabin, or possibly even in private suites.
Therefore, space travel is no longer limited to professional astronauts. Considering this, along with the various motivations of space tourists and future developments in spacecraft, scientists have concluded that sex in space is likely to occur within the next ten years.
Sex and pregnancy in space
Researchers are genuinely concerned not so much about the possibility of intimate relationships during space travel, but rather about whether these relationships could lead to human conception in space.
Early orbital space tourism flights are expected to last from a few days to a few weeks. Therefore, only the early stages of human reproduction may occur in space.
Passengers will not be allowed to board if it is known that they are pregnant. However, the space tourism industry does not seem to consider hidden or unknown pregnancies. Sometimes, women may not even realize they are pregnant until labor begins.
Over the decades of human spaceflight, we have learned that microgravity and increased levels of ionizing radiation deeply affect our bodies. However, scientists still do not know how this will impact the physiological processes of reproduction.
Possible pregnancy issues in zero gravity
Astronauts regularly suffer from muscle and bone atrophy because their bodies no longer have to resist the forces of gravity. On Earth, gravity affects the distribution of fluids in the body (such as blood). Its absence can lead to increased pressure inside the skull, which can cause blurred vision in individuals and even result in changes to the structure of the brain.
Limited experiments on mouse embryos, including in a mini-incubator on a satellite, have shown changes in embryo viability after exposure to space. Knowledge about the impact on human reproduction is virtually nonexistent, but scientists suggest that there will be consequences.
Thus, there is an unknown potential for developmental anomalies in human embryos conceived in space. Additionally, in microgravity conditions, there is a likely increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo attaches outside the uterus (for example, in the fallopian tubes).
Even if space tourists use contraceptives, there is no guarantee that they will be as effective beyond Earth. There have been no studies on how the space environment will affect contraceptives.
Space tourism requires a well-thought-out protection scheme for both parties.
The space tourism industry faces commercial risks of litigation, reputational damage, and financial losses if passengers become pregnant during space flights, as well as issues related to ethical and reproductive rights. A new study found little evidence that the sector is taking steps to mitigate these risks.
There is also a dark side to consider – the risk of sexual violence in space. This is why the space tourism industry and other stakeholders must urgently come together to discuss all these issues and formulate a strategy to protect all participants.
As Professor David Cullen notes in the publication Sciencealert A simple solution could be to combine pre-flight consultations with all space tourists regarding the risks of human conception in space. Legal waivers could also be considered to release space tourism operators from liability if human conception does occur. It is important for the space travel sector to be prepared for potential consequences.
