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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.

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Editorial Reviews

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Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2010: With her wry humor and inextinguishable curiosity, Mary Roach has crafted her own quirky niche in the somewhat staid world of science writing, showing no fear (or shame) in the face of cadavers, ectoplasm, or sex. In Packing for Mars, Roach tackles the strange science of space travel, and the psychology, technology, and politics that go into sending a crew into orbit. Roach is unfailingly inquisitive (Why is it impolite for astronauts to float upside down during conversations? Just how smelly does a spacecraft get after a two week mission?), and she eagerly seeks out the stories that don't make it onto NASA's website--from SPCA-certified space suits for chimps, to the trial-and-error approach to crafting menus during the space program's early years (when the chefs are former livestock veterinarians, taste isn't high on the priority list). Packing for Mars is a book for grownups who still secretly dream of being astronauts, and Roach lives it up on their behalf--weightless in a C-9 aircraft, she just can't resist the opportunity to go "Supermanning" around the cabin. Her zeal for discovery, combined with her love of the absurd, amazing, and stranger-than-fiction, make Packing for Mars an uproarious trip into the world of space travel. --Lynette Mong

From Publishers Weekly

Roach (Stiff) once again proves herself the ideal guide to a parallel universe. Despite all the high-tech science that has resulted in space shuttles and moonwalks, the most crippling hurdles of cosmic travel are our most primordial human qualities: eating, going to the bathroom, having sex and bathing, and not dying in reentry. Readers learn that throwing up in a space helmet could be life-threatening, that Japanese astronaut candidates must fold a thousand origami paper cranes to test perseverance and attention to detail, and that cadavers are gaining popularity over crash dummies when studying landings. Roach's humor and determined curiosity keep the journey lively, and her profiles of former astronauts are especially telling. However, larger questions about the "worth" or potential benefits of space travel remain ostensibly unasked, effectively rendering these wild and well-researched facts to the status of trivia. Previously, Roach engaged in topics everyone could relate to. Unlike having sex or being dead, though, space travel pertains only to a few, leaving the rest of us unsure what it all amounts to. Still, the chance to float in zero gravity, even if only vicariously, can be surprising in what it reveals about us.
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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
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,983

About the author

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Mary Roach
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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.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
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Biomed Shenanigans on Orbit
5 Stars
Biomed Shenanigans on Orbit
In the novel, Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, its subtitle say it all: The Curious Science of Life in the Void.It's the fun adventure of an investigative space-science writer as she researches various biomed topics about life in zero gravity. Includes everything you didn't--but wanted to--know about manned spaceflight. Hilarious, entertaining, and enlightening.Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2010
When I was ten years old (in 1963), I had a plan for my life. After high school, I would go to the US Air Force Academy, followed by flight training (jets, of course). Later I would go to test pilot school with the ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut. I was too young for Apollo (and for Vietnam as an officer and pilot), but if it had worked out, I would have been an Air Force pilot in the late 70's and astronaut-ready by the mid-80's. The plan fell apart when I was 12 and started to develop severe myopia. The Air Force Academy and flight training wouldn't allow corrective lenses (of course even if I had 20/10 "Yeagervision" there are any number of other things that could have killed my plan, but hey, it was a fun plan while it lasted).

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.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2010
Dear Mary Roach,
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.

Top reviews from other countries

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KarmaTiger
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read
Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2024
Roach's writing style takes the minutae of space travel and makes it fascinating. She actually travels around the globe to interview people who play or have played important roles in various countries' space programmes, giving many a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the science, the politics, and the bureaucracy that goes into these endeavours.

A compelling, entertaining, and informative read.
Valentin Tone
5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr interessant
Reviewed in Germany on June 26, 2020
Ein sehr interessantes Buch
Philip Norton
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Funny
Reviewed in Japan on January 23, 2022
I am loving this book! It is my first Mary Roach book, but now I want to read all of her work. Not only does it present a unique view of the challenges of space travel, but it also provides insight into Mary's investigations and encounters.
michmat
4.0 out of 5 stars Another amazing book by Mary Roach!
Reviewed in Spain on June 2, 2014
Once again Mary Roach amazes with her brillant style: here is another divulgation book of hers, bringing consisten scientific, technological and historical information, based upon a serious work of research and key people interview and written with nice humor.
Good!
marsha l. reid
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed this book on the history of space travel
Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book on the history of space travel - from the first test rockets, to the Appollo landing, to planning for a manned expedition to Mars. What's unique about Mary is humor and her ability to ask the questions no one asks in conventional histories. She covers everything from eating, to pooping, to sex in space. And while that might sound like tabloid journalism, dealing with the basic human functions raises truly profound scientific questions and problems of men and women in space.

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.