Never mind sex in space; what about death up there?

SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | May 2, 2007 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Young Werther]

NASA is not the "be all end all" when it comes to space exploration. Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein have written about and suggested solutions to these issues.

When Lunar Colonies are established and years long Solar System expeditions are mounted, societal norms will be the guiding light not some NASA rocket scientist.

I remember onevscifi story where the population on a large space station had become divided into two classes. The upper class were the managers and workers while the "lower class" were those who were the "garbage class" since they recycled everything!!! Was a mortician someone who dealt with death? Was a pooptician someone who recycled Sheryl Crow material?? Get the point?

[ASA Vet]

Keeping a Souliman Aktapan around would be less of a hassle.

[umbagi]

When should the plug be pulled on a critically ill astronaut

It depends... Are we talking about a regular crew member, or an expendable "red shirt"?

[glorgau]

Duct tape!

[U S Army EOD]

Better yet, consider what those guys did with the other passengers when their plane crashed in the Andes. Waste not, want not.

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

Only in this case, "the deep" would be deep space.

You could stuff 'em in a bag and attach them to the outside of the spacecraft. The corpse would freeze dry and keep nicely until you return to Earth.

Less creepy than keeping them on board.

[colorado tanker]

Yep, burial at sea, high-tech space style.

[U S Army EOD]

Bagpipes will not play in a vacuum, have you thought of that?

[colorado tanker]

Williams said the question of sex in space is not a matter of crew health

I beg to differ!

[tcostell]

I think I see a Helen Thomas photo in your future.

[Dilbert San Diego]

As far as sexual desire in space, I can see some problems.

Among other things, is there any privacy in space, or does everyone have to do things in front of others?

And what about gay lesbian and pre-op and post-op transgendered astronauts? What accomodations will be made for their special needs on the space ship?

[LexBaird]

Bagpipes will not play in a vacuum, have you thought of that?

At last! Science discovers the remedy for bad pipers!

[Spktyr]

There are good pipers?

[CholeraJoe]

In space, no one can hear the bagpipes scream?

[CholeraJoe]

Can you get a boner in zero-G, I wonder?

[Paleo Conservative]

Have they considered freeze drying? Then they could just bring it back. With most of the water gone it would be much lighter and not offend anyone. Might be a bit of a shock if someone opened the wrong closet.

That would be really easy to do in space - just put the body in the vacuum of space tethered to the spacecraft in the shade for a few minutes.

[Hegemony Cricket]

"You could stuff 'em in a bag and attach them to the outside of the spacecraft. The corpse would freeze dry and keep nicely until you return to Earth."

Yeah, just like in "Vacation"...

[xsmommy]

figures i’d find you on a serious thread, thinking deep thoughts....

[antiRepublicrat]

Williams said the question of sex in space is not a matter of crew health but a behavioral issue that will have to be taken up by others at NASA.

I think that could be a health issue given that someone could get pregnant.

[Petruchio]

Group Activity time . . .