How To Have Sex On Mars Pt 01

How To Have Sex On Mars

Part 1 of 16

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Mars. For millennia, the Red Planet has fired humanity's imagination.

Scientists like Percival Lowell thought it was an "abode of life" with irrigation canals transporting water from the polar icecaps to farms in the warm equatorial region. Novelists like Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, and Robert A. Heinlein imagined Martian civilizations.

NASA spacecraft revealed that Mars is a cold desert, but that vast amounts of frozen water can be found just below the dusty surface. Today, members of groups like The Mars Society are making plans to build a permanent colony there.

That work would be done by people like our protagonist, Mike Russell, an astronaut who spends years working and living on Mars. What would it be like to be one of the first people to call Mars home? For Mike, it includes the discovery that sex on Mars is very different from on Earth - and Vive la différence!

Here in Part 1, we learn that Mike has decided it is time for him to reveal what sex was like on Mars.

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By Capt. Mike Russell USAF (RET)

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Let's begin with me acknowledging that I did not write the title of this book. I wrote all the contents, but my publisher didn't like the title I suggested. I wanted to call it

Finding Love On Mars.

Since my editors like to sell as many books as possible, they think

How to Have Sex on Mars

is a better title. They say that if I'd like this book to be bought - and read - putting the word "sex" in the title will ensure it becomes a bestseller. I'm a little uncomfortable with the wording, but the publisher knows more than me about promoting books.

Despite the title, this is not a how-to book. It describes the sex lives of those of us who built and occupied the first Martian colony. The people on Mars today approach sex very differently than we did. For reasons this book is intended to explain, the first colonists lived under very unusual circumstances that forced us to approach sex in a very unusual way. Lots of books have been written about what it was like to build the first Mars settlement, but none of those books provide any details about the unconventional way our sex lives evolved.

That's because a lot of my fellow astronauts feel uncomfortable talking about this aspect of our lifestyle. We even discussed it at the time, agreeing that it was best if we didn't let people on Earth know what we were doing. We thought information about our sex lives would cause an uproar that might undermine support for the effort to colonize Mars.

But that was a long time ago. Things have changed. Today, there are more than 3,000 residents of a growing colony that generates enough profit to pay for itself. Modern Martians include a mix of enough men and women to allow people to find sexual partners in ways that aren't much different than the way romance happens here on Earth.

When I was on Mars, I was one of just 40 settlers. That included 32 women and 8 men. I think the people who decided to have such a lopsided mix of the sexes imagined that it didn't matter because we would all be celibate during our tour. After all, astronauts had spent missions of more than a year on space stations or the Moon. They remained celibate. Mainly.

But that just wasn't practical on Mars. We were there for too long. We felt a lot more isolated than astronauts who could look out a window, see the Earth hanging in the sky, and think about the fact that they'd be home in a few months. In an emergency, they could return in just a few days. Creating a years-long mission with so many women and so few men guaranteed that our growing loneliness would eventually force us to become involved in types of relationships that would be considered very strange on Earth.

I think that finally telling the truth about what has been a private topic will reveal a lot about human nature. It also says something about that unique moment in history. I've tried to write this book in a way that doesn't violate anyone's privacy, but still adds something worthwhile to the historical record.

Being one of the first people to live on Mars was the greatest privilege of my life. I'm sure that everyone reading this book already knows that we experienced glorious successes and horrific tragedies. I hope you decide that this book tells the story of how determined people, engaged in one of the most significant projects in history, did their best to make it through unusual challenges in unusual situations. Is it surprising that we behaved in unusual ways?

Every living person I've named agreed to participate in this project. All of them granted interviews to discuss their memories of that time in our lives. The ones who didn't want to be quoted are not mentioned. Everyone who agreed was allowed to preview the portions of this text that involved them. I like to think that one reason so many people let me use their names is because they believe I've told their stories honestly and respectfully. I will try to be worthy of that trust.

This book is dedicated to the men and women who died during those early years on Mars.

Let's start at the beginning.

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My last night on Earth was the happiest and saddest time I've ever experienced. It was indescribably exciting to know that I was one of 40 astronauts about to climb into rockets that would carry us to Mars, where we would build the first permanent settlement on another planet. I'd slept poorly for months because I couldn't stop thinking about all the amazing things I was about to experience. There was a long list of tasks I needed to accomplish in the years ahead, and I was anxious to get started.

But it was agonizing to know I was leaving Earth behind. I remember thinking about wonderful hikes I'd done in the Rocky Mountains, scuba dives where I'd explored coral reefs off the coasts of the Americas and Australia, camping trips all over the world, and the summer I worked on a sailboat taking rich tourists island hopping all over the Caribean. How could I leave this beautiful planet behind?

Mainly, I thought about my girlfriend, Carol Walker, and the fact that we were spending our last night together. Carol accompanied me to the going-away party for the Mars crew, where everyone did their best to think about where we were going, and avoid thinking about what we were leaving.

"I feel sorry for those two," Carol said, pointing to another couple sitting nearby. Adeline Remy was a botanist who was in charge of setting up a greenhouse that would produce food for the settlement. She was with her fiance Claude Voland, who was holding her to his chest as she wept quietly.

I was acquainted with Adeline - we'd gone through astronaut training together - and I knew that she and Claude had been a couple since they met in graduate school in Paris. Like me and Carol, Adeline and Claude were saying goodbye forever. Lots of romances were coming to an end, and Adeline was particularly devastated because she and Claude had planned to get married and start a family. Then, she was chosen for the Mars mission, which was an opportunity she could not reject. My relationship with Carol was newer and less committed, but I knew I'd miss her terribly. I could not imagine how traumatic the separation would be for Adeline.

I suspect that most readers of this book know that Adeline and I got married on Mars. We have been in a committed relationship since the early days of our mission. But on that last night on Earth, we were just colleagues feeling excited and sad simultaneously.

Carol and I left the party early. We went to the apartment building for astronauts in training, and we went straight to my bedroom because we wanted one more chance to be intimate.

"Carol, I've been thinking something, and this is my last opportunity to tell you," I said.

"You are the first woman I've dated who made me feel I could spend the rest of my life with you. I've had very nice relationships with wonderful ladies, but I've never known anyone who makes me feel as comfortable as you. If I wasn't leaving, I'm pretty sure I would have eventually gotten to work on a campaign to convince you to marry me."

Carol gave me a sad smile. "Mike, for the last week I've avoided saying the same thing to you. You know I love you. You know I'm committed to you. I just thought it wasn't a good idea to talk about stuff like that to a guy about to go live on another planet.

"I wish we could stay together. I think we would have gotten married eventually. But we both know that going to Mars is too big an opportunity for you to pass up.

"I'm sad for us, but happy for you."

I don't remember any other conversation from that night. What I remember is that Carol and I removed our clothes very slowly before climbing into bed. I wanted to remember everything.

This is the last time I'll kiss Carol's lips,

I thought to myself.

I kissed Carol's neck, gradually working lower until I was licking, sucking, and nibbling her breasts

This is the last time I'll touch her like this,

I thought, being sure to give her boobs the attention they deserved. Carol's breasts were firm little handfuls topped by large brown nipples that felt exquisite between my lips.

A former college athlete, Carol was devoted to fitness. She had marvelous, well-defined abs that I loved to caress.

This is the last time I'll see Carol's abs,

I thought as I touched and kissed her flat belly.

Carol liked to wax her pussy. I loved that. I think the part of a woman's body that's between her legs is a particularly beautiful part of female anatomy, and I appreciate being able to see it without hair obstructing the view. I remember thinking that it was absolutely essential that I go down on Carol that night. I was saying goodbye to that part of her body, and I wanted to make sure I did a good job of letting her know how much I would miss it.

I spread Carol's legs, marveling at how firm and muscular they were. We'd gone on lots of rigorous hikes together, and I'd spent a lot of time admiring those strong, shapely legs as she scrambled up hills and over rocks.

This is the last time I'll touch Carol's legs,

I thought to myself.

The last time I'll kiss between her thighs.

The soft, tender flesh welcomed me as I went closer and closer to Carol's pussy. I kissed and nibbled that delicate skin as I gazed at her outer lips, which were just inches in front of me.

By this time I was almost overwhelmed with arousal. My cock was painfully hard, and the head had that purple tinge it gets when it is engorged with blood. As much as I wanted to plunge my cock deep into Carol's body, the one thing I wanted more was to get my final taste of her soft inner folds.

I remember kissing closer and closer to her pussy, lavishing lots of attention on her soft, smooth outer lips. Using my fingertips, I gently spread those lips. Inside, her warm, wet flesh was as pink and fragrant as I'd ever seen.

Carol moaned in a way that let me know she was as excited as me. She ran her hand over the back of my head, urging me to get down to the business of eating her pussy.

This is the last time I'll experience this wonderful scent,

I told myself.

The last time I'll savor this wonderful taste.

I licked up and down, touching her everywhere except on the clitoris. I took a deep breath so I could enjoy the female fragrance I'd grown to love. Carol squirmed on the bed, letting me know she liked what I was doing. I finally sucked her clit between my lips and gently licked it with my tongue, prompting Carol to gasp. I felt her climax, and she squirted a small amount of fluid on my face.

She laughed. "Did I just squirt on you?"

"Maybe," I said.

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," I said. "I love when you do that." As soon as those words passed my lips, I thought,

That's the last time I'll make Carol squirt.

I gave Carol a moment to recover from her orgasm, then began licking and sucking again. I pressed my face against her pussy and rubbed my nose back and forth over her clit. She always loved that, so I made sure to do it for a long, long time.

I pushed my tongue as deep inside her as it would reach, and licked her soft, wet flesh over and over and over. By this time I was getting anxious to give her my cock. I remember that my hands were under her bottom, and I squeezed her firm cheeks one last time before moving on to what was next.

When I got close to her face, Carol looked happy. She smiled sweetly, then pulled me closer. We shared a passionate kiss that seemed to last forever. I finally took my cock in her hand, placed it at her opening, and slowly pushed inside.

"Aaahhhhh..."

she said softly after getting my cock.

I lay motionless for a moment, enjoying how it felt to be on top of her familiar body. Carol began to move her hips, urging me to get started doing the things we did to express our most intimate feelings. There was nothing particularly exotic or unusual about what happened next. I just began moving in and out, doing my best to enjoy every motion and avoid rushing.

Carol was very wet. Unusually wet. She was equally aware of the fact that this was our final night together, and that everything we were doing was for the very last time.

We'd never been more in tune with each other physically. We'd been together long enough that I knew exactly how to arouse her. After a few minutes, I could tell she was going to climax again.

What happened next was glorious. Carol's second orgasm was stronger, and she cried out joyfully as she came. I felt her body shudder as the excitement overwhelmed her.

It wasn't long until the excitement overwhelmed me. I began having a powerful climax, filling Carol's pussy with a particularly large amount of my warm, wet seed. I came until I was so exhausted I could barely move. She ran her hands up and down my back and I laid heavily on top of her body.

I eventually rolled off to her side, keeping her wrapped in my arms so our bodies remained pressed together. When I finally opened my eyes I saw her look at me with an expression of love. I imagine that my face must have looked the same to her.

Neither one of us wanted to sleep. We didn't intend to waste our last few hours together. We lay in each other's arms for a long time, then Carol reached down and wrapped her fingers around my cock. She gently stroked me up and down, and when I began to get firm she moved lower and sucked me into her mouth.

Soon I was so hard that you couldn't tell we'd just had sex. I tried to pull her up so we could resume making love, but she wouldn't stop. She wanted to make sure she did an unforgettable job the last time she gave me a blowjob.

This is the last time Carol will suck my cock,

I realized.

I was getting frantic by the time Carol rolled me onto my back and moved to straddle me. She knew how much I loved watching her ride me like a cowgirl. She knew how much I enjoyed letting my hands touch her from her face to her thighs and all the places in between.

This is the last time I'll watch Carol ride me

, I thought as I watched her go through dance-like motions above me. She put her hands flat on my chest as she went up and down. I put my hands on top of hers.

Both of us had already climaxed, so we felt no urgency to do it again. Both of us wanted this erotic moment to continue for as long as possible. Carol rose and fell, rose and fell, becoming more excited by such imperceptibly small measures that it was possible to imagine we could make love forever.

Carol began breathing deeply. More rapidly. She began panting. Her motions got faster. More forceful. It went on and on until she was slamming down hard enough to shake me from head to toe. She began making little whimpering noises that got louder and louder until she was wailing joyfully.

"Mike! Ohhhh!! Miiiiiikkke!!!"

she cried as her climax began. By this time Carol and I were so familiar with each other's bodies that our orgasms almost always overlapped. That's what happened next. I didn't have much cum left in me, but I felt it shooting into Carol's throbbing pussy.

Carol's hair flew in all directions as her head whipped back and forth.

"Aaaaaaaiiiiiiii... yaaaaaah!!!!"

she cried in one long, final wail.

When it was over, Carol slumped down so I could hug her to my chest. We were spent. Finally. Several minutes went by before I was ready to speak.

"I love you,"

I whispered.

"I love you, too,"

she said.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

When I woke the next day, I felt Carol's hand wrapped around my morning erection. I climbed on top of her body and we enjoyed one final moment of intimacy. It was equal parts joy and sorrow.

Carol accompanied me to the launch, staying with me until I reached the gate leading to my rocket. She reached into her purse and pulled out a book.

"I got you a gift," she said.

"I feel bad that I didn't get anything for you," I said.

The book was an autographed first edition of Ray Bradbury's classic SF story,

The Martian Chronicles.

It is one of my favorite books, written in the 1940s during last days of the glorious era when people still believed that civilizations may have thrived on Mars. That notion didn't die until the 1960s, when spacecraft visited Mars and gave us photographs of a barren, desiccated planet covered by craters, not canals.

"Where did you get this!?" I asked. I remembered being a 14-year-old boy reading that amazing story for the very first time.

"I know a rare books dealer who is fond of astronauts," Carol said. "He likes knowing that this book will travel to Mars."

I was speechless. "I can't thank you enough," I said.

"You already have," Carol replied.

These days Carol is a grandmother who works as a high school principal in San Jose, California. She married a chemical engineer, and she says he made her very happy right up until he died of cancer two years ago. When I interviewed her for this book, she said that she'd always kept a secret from me.

"Just before you were picked for the Mars mission, I decided I wanted to marry you," she said. "Do you remember that camping trip we did in Yellowstone? I woke up in our tent one morning, and when I saw how adorable you looked as you slept, I felt an outpouring of love. I realized I wanted to spend my life with you.

"After we got home I did something that many lovesick teenage girls do. I wrote out my name as it would look if we got married. Carol Russell. Mrs. Carol Russell. Mrs. Michael Russell.

"But then you were selected for the Mars mission, and I knew I couldn't say anything about my secret plans. Mars was your destiny. I loved you too much to try to stop you from going. So I kept my mouth shut and did my crying when you weren't around.

"Watching that rocket blast off into the sky was agonizing for me.

"I've had a wonderful life, a wonderful husband, and a wonderful family. I have wonderful grandchildren. Still, I've always wondered what might have happened if you hadn't been such a god damned perfect astronaut candidate for one of the most important projects in human history."

What I remember is that I held that precious book very tightly as I kissed Carol before turning to leave. I couldn't resist the urge to turn back and see her one last time, and when I did I saw tears in her eyes. We'd both manage to avoid tears until that moment. Seeing Carol shedding tears made me cry, too.

This is the last time I'll see Carol,

I thought as I turned away and looked ahead at the giant rocket that would carry me to Mars.