# masturbation in space **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698 "2003-11-28T07:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madonnaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@madonnaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madonnaman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/1 "2003-11-28T07:51:35Z")
Through the entire history of the space age, through the countless hours, days, weeks, and months that astronauts and cosmonauts have spent in space, it seems plausible, even probable that an astronaut or cosmonaut has at least once succumbed to the desire for masturbatory (or sexual) gratification. However, orgasming in zero-gravity would seem to have certain complications, at least for men. After all, who wants weightless blobs of semen floating through the space ship, posing an aspiration danger, clogging up instruments, and being just plain icky? So has any astronaut or cosmonaut ever admitted to getting off in space? Have the various governments and space agencies advised their space travelers on what to do should the temptation arrise, such as strictly prohibiting masturbation under any circumstances, or requiring that it be done into a special container? Also, wouldn’t it be so cool to say that you were the first guy to spank his monkey in outer space? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/2 "2003-11-28T08:00:12Z")
Some people should never be left alone with their thoughts… ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/3 "2003-11-28T08:00:25Z")
According to [Cecil’s column about sex in space](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_214.html): > [@](#): > > What Collins says is, “One doctor advised regular masturbation, advice [Skylab crew member] Joe [Kerwin] ignored.” He doesn’t say other crew members _didn’t_ ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/4 "2003-11-28T08:22:19Z")
That certainly puts a new twist on the line, “Houston, we have a problem.” ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/5 "2003-11-28T08:33:37Z")
One of Newton’s Laws: “Every action has an opposite and equal reaction.” Being said, what’s the thrust value of **ahem** , you know. . . Tripler I mean, it’s not like we can boost satellites into LEO with this method, but, you know. . . ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/6 "2003-11-28T08:57:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tripler \* > **…what’s the thrust value of ahem, you know. . .** According to [this page](http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio202g/202-28,29.html), a typical ejaculation is 2-5 ml at a speed of 200"/sec. Since momentum is conserved, a 5ml ejaculation results in the astronaut moving backward at 0.013"/sec (assuming 75kg mass for astronaut). ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/7 "2003-11-28T09:27:26Z")
The “used sock” trick probably works just as well in space as it does in front of my computer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/8 "2003-11-28T12:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*The “used sock” trick probably works just as well in space as it does in front of my computer. 😃 \*\* lmao! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/9 "2003-11-28T13:08:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*The “used sock” trick probably works just as well in space as it does in front of my computer. 😃 \*\* :eek: Can I get a “Ewwwww”, people? ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/10 "2003-11-28T15:34:27Z")
Yeah reallly! I mean, you can get a nasty case of jock itch from using a used sock. _Glances at roll of TP by desk._ Ahem. ---
**Author:** ![lilabet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@lilabet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilabet)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/11 "2003-11-28T15:36:46Z")
Why socks? Do you actually put your wotsit \*in the sock \* ??? Lil (A girl.) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/12 "2003-11-28T16:23:42Z")
Different anatomy, different methods. Sitting on the washing machine doesn’t work as well for us guys. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/13 "2003-11-28T16:35:41Z")
Well, couldn’t they bring condoms? ---
**Author:** ![DreadLead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@DreadLead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadLead)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/14 "2003-11-28T21:02:51Z")
Isn’t sex with a rubber badd enuff?? To have to masturbate with one, too!! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/15 "2003-11-28T21:15:43Z")
Now I know why they have Tang up there: creamsicles! ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/16 "2003-11-28T21:20:24Z")
Mm. Now here’s a thread what could use a TMI tag… ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/17 "2003-11-28T22:55:06Z")
What, the title wasn’t enough? ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/18 "2003-11-28T23:41:52Z")
Can’t they just masturbate into the urine receptacle? Then jettison the ejaculate out into space? ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/19 "2003-11-28T23:53:38Z")
Can’t do that! What if the gunk landed on some planet somewhere and evolved? How could you EVER get the decendants to believe their creation story? ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698/20 "2003-11-28T23:58:01Z")
Well, there _are_ people who believe that we’re descended from aliens who **came** from outer space. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbation-in-space/215698.md?page=2)