Secret Nasa report 'recommended all-female Mars missions' after studying astronauts' sexual dynamics
Women-only crews would cooperate better than male ones, rumoured paper thought to suggest
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nasa secretly considered all-female missions to Mars in a report examining sexual dynamics among astronauts, it has been claimed.
The paper showed the space agency had considered enforcing a strict gender divide on potential long-haul missions, according to astronaut Helen Sharman.
Britain’s first person in space told a conference that the rumoured document, filed “some years ago”, was designed to address the “impure thoughts” mixed spacefaring crews might suffer, Mail Online reported.
The document’s age could explain its apparent lack of consideration of same-sex attraction.
Ms Sharman told the New Scientist Live conference: “I did hear some years ago that there was a report. Nasa has never released it, but it was done to see exactly the kind of crew makeup was necessary for the reason we have already alluded to.
“It found that the crew should be the same gender – all men or all women.”
All-female crews would have been better than all-male, the report is said to have concluded, due to women's superior cooperation skills.
The Independent has contacted Nasa for comment.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments