We need to stop thinking about the psychological aspects and really think about the important big picture: SEX IN SPACE.

It’s going to be a long, looong trip. Those people are going to have to amuse themselves somehow. How about masturbation in zero gravity? What if the spillage clogs up the instruments? Eewww!

Never mind. I’m tired, I don’t feel well and it’s late.

I mean, she carried a set of adult diapers to save the time — now that’s what I call being prepared.

On the other hand, the scientist-type in me says I hope NASA gets “good data” (as scientists-types all over are wont to say). Seriously, NASA is spending a lot of money and research to understand how men and women adapt to the stresses of isolation and loneliness in space. The crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) usually spends 6-12 months at a time living with each other. There are too many variables to know exactly what can happen out in the cold depths of space.

And when we do send humans to Mars, they may be gone for almost two years.

(So what should the first Martian crew look like? All seasoned military men like it was for the first Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle missions? Perhaps we keep them mixed? And what about their status? All single? Or married? Or asexually-identified post-op transexual?)