Spatwatch

International Space Station Bans Astronaut Sex

Max Fisher 1,344 Views Jun 29, 2010

In April, an international team of astronauts arrived at the International Space Station. The otherwise routine mission was unusual because the team, led by NASA's Alan Poindexter, quadrupled the number of women onboard from one to four, including Naoko Yamazaki, who is officially designated as "the first Japanese mother in space."

Two months later, for reasons that are possibly related and possibly not related, the U.K. Telegraph reports that Poindexter now articulates what appears to be a formal ISS policy: There is absolutely no sex on the International Space Station. Here are the details from what sounds like a mighty awkward press conference:

International Space Station sex ban

Commanders do not allow sexual intercourse on the International Space Station, it has been disclosed.

"We are a group of professionals," said Alan Poindexter, a NASA commander, during a visit to Tokyo, when asked about the consequences if astronauts boldly went where no others have been.
"We treat each other with respect and we have a great working relationship. Personal relationships are not ... an issue," said a serious-faced Mr Poindexter. "We don't have them and we won't."

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