NASA says it may study sex in space as it is 'crucial' to long-term Mars missions

dailystar.co.uk:

NASA has finally said it will consider researching something that has tortured astronauts for decades: sex in space. The space agency has come under increased pressure to encourage a '62-mile high club' and embrace space sex research to ensure that humans can safely reproduce in outer space.

Academics argue it will be vital to ensuring a long-term human presence on other celestial bodies like Mars and the Moon, as the likes of Elon Musk hope.Academic Simon Dubé said: “No research has explored intimate relationships, nor the human experience of sexual functions and wellbeing, in space or space analogues, or how any of this can affect crew performance.”After years of dodging the question and forcing astronauts to keep their hands to themselves, NASA has finally said it is willing to conduct research into the subject.NASA told Mic: “We are primarily concerned with ensuring crew members’ health and safety in space for long periods of time.

Our Human Research Program is working to mitigate the five hazards of human spaceflight and researching ways to help crews work together and remain emotionally prepared during their journey.”“Should a future need for more in-depth study on reproductive health in space be identified, NASA would take the appropriate steps.However, it added: “we are not currently seeking proposals or considering a dedicated field or project office on this topic.” The question is only going to become more and more pressing for NASA, particularly as the trip to Mars takes around seven months.

Astronauts or space tourists could realistically conceive and give birth entirely in space with potentially dangerous consequences from zero-gravity and space radiation.