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Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void Illustrated Edition
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The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.
Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.- ISBN-100393068471
- ISBN-13978-0393068474
- EditionIllustrated
- PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
- Publication dateAugust 2, 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.9 x 1 x 8.6 inches
- Print length336 pages
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― Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"This is the kind of smart, smirky stuff that Roach does so well."
― Geoff Nicholson, San Francisco Chronicle
"Cool answers to questions about the void you didn’t even know you had."
― People
"An utterly fascinating account, made all the more entertaining by the author’s ever-amused tone."
― BookPage
"An impish and adventurous writer with a gleefully inquisitive mind and stand-up comic’s timing."
― Booklist
"The author’s writing comes across as reportorial, but with a clear sense of humor; even the footnotes are used to both informational and comedic effect."
― Time Out New York
"Hilarious."
― The New York Times Book Review
"A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-flight curiosities."
― Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (August 2, 2010)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0393068471
- ISBN-13 : 978-0393068474
- Lexile measure : 1070L
- Item Weight : 1.07 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.9 x 1 x 8.6 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #457,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Mars
- #395 in Aeronautics & Astronautics (Books)
- #679 in Astrophysics & Space Science (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Packing for Mars: Space Hygiene
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Omnivoracious Podcast: Mary Roach on Packing for Mars
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About the author

Mary Roach is the author of Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Her writing has appeared in Outside, Wired, National Geographic, and the New York Times Magazine, among others. She lives in Oakland, California.
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At that time, the idea of space flight represented nothing but sheer excitement, but now that I've read the new book Packing for Mars (by Mary Roach, subtitled "The Curious Science of Life in the Void"), I understand better than ever that the astronaut's life is much more complicated and less enjoyable than you might imagine. Maybe this wasn't the life for me. Of course I knew this at some level from a lot of previous reading about space flight, but with the exception of some astronaut memoirs (especially Mike Mullane's down-and-dirty "Riding Rockets"), they don't go into much detail on the discomforts and inconveniences of space flight. Mary Roach does, and she does so with a writing style that is informative, colorful, personal, and often downright hilarious. I was laughing out loud at least once in every chapter. Her writing style often reminds me of Bill Bryson. She explains things clearly, but emphasizes quirky details and people. While the situations are often funny, she obviously respects the people and the work they do, so it never comes across as snarky - she's often laughing with the astronauts, cosmonauts, and other space workers.
Of course she covers the required "going to the bathroom in space," but she also covers the psychology of isolation and confinement, general problems of zero-G (including bone loss and vomiting), crash testing (with cadavers!), animal testing, Earth-based mission simulations, hygiene, and the ever-intriguing questions of sex in space. On the latter topic, she isn't able to come up with any hard evidence (sorry) that it has happened, but you can't say her research wasn't thorough. Considering that someone might have "done it" in a zero-G parabolic test flight, she tracks down and watches an obscure porn movie that was rumored to have had one scene shot on such a flight. She uses a fluid dynamics argument (sort of) to conclude that while the scene may have been shot in an airplane, it was not shot in zero-G. Read the book for more. You will also learn some interesting things about dolphin behavior and anatomy, since these marine mammals have to deal with some of the same issues as zero-G astronaut couples might encounter.
The author interviewed astronauts, cosmonauts, and all sorts of researchers, and her field trips included a flight on the "vomit comet" (she didn't vomit, thanks to "good drugs" they give you) and a trip to Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic, where NASA conducts simulated lunar and Mars missions in a remote, desolate, cratered environment that's about as close as you can get to Moon or Mars terrain on Earth. NASA and the US astronauts seemed to be the most "uptight," and the Russian cosmonauts the most frank in describing uncomfortable stuff. One exception was Jim Lovell, who was was unusually open, especially when she asked him about Gemini 7, in which he had spent two bathing-free weeks in the tiny Gemini cabin with Frank Borman, who apparently could be a rather cranky and difficult guy. Lovell proved he was brave enough for Apollo 13 by spending some 23 days in space with Borman (Gemini 7 and Apollo 8 - Borman was sick most of the time on Apollo 8, though it wasn't admitted at the time - so perhaps a bit of crankiness could be forgiven).
I read the Kindle version of the book, and I found it was valuable (and funny) to read most of the footnotes, which required a "click" for each one. Some of the funniest comments are in the footnotes. A very good book, even if you're not especially interested in space.
I'm a huge fan and have read all your books!
In every one, I am so surprised by your discoveries!
I'm enjoying Mars and am finding it very interesting and funny!
However, and respectfully I ask you to write another entire book on the stuff you did not address - Is there life in space?!? What about the Summarian Tablets? What about Planet X?
And I would love to read your take in a 6th book, on our current political situation! I worked tirelessly for the Public Option and feel I failed. What do you think of George Carlin on the American Dream (posted on my profile)? What do you think of 911 being an inside job? What do you think of Alex Jones work? The Bildebergers? Is Obama Skull and Bones like Hillary, Bill and the Bushes? Thanks! Big Hug!
I'm still reading this book. Given that I wish she'd written about the real outer space rather than the ridiculous experiments NASA's been conducting for the last 50 years; I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's so totally Mary Roach! My favorite part so far was about BO. As a natural health doctor, I found it very interesting to learn, about the bacteria count of sweat in various parts of the body. Our feet, armpits and ass, definitely have more germs, hence odor!
The Discovery/Earth series had a show about sex in space. I of course thought it would be a little more cosmic, like planets and galaxies co-creating.... but it was about a woman scientist who had invented a spacesuit that would hook up to your lover's space suit, so you could have sex at zero G. Mary Roach is her usual, awesome, hilarious self in her chapter about astronauts having sex in space. Just delightful, including several laugh out loud moments!
Here are my final comments as I finish Packing for Mars.
I love Mary Roach and every one of her books, this being my least favorite so far.
I maintain that I would have liked this one better if it was more far out.
We just rewatched "Armageddon" with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. It reminded me so much of Packing for Mars. They must have spent a lot of money on the movie with all the space simulations. For me the movie was kind of dumb and over dramatic. So was Mary Roach's 4th book.
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A compelling, entertaining, and informative read.
Good!
I remember as a little kid trying to stay to watch the Moon Landing with my Dad (fell asleep despite my best efforts). Mary has managed in her book to capture the imagination and that initial excitement of sending Man to the Moon as well as reminding of us the dangers involved and shines on a spotlight on the dedicated scientists who have made this happen and continue to work toward further human exploration in space.
















