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Loading... Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Voidby Mary Roach
  
No current Talk conversations about this book. Hilariously informative and fascinating, as Mary Roach always seems to be. (  ) valzi | Sep 7, 2016 |  Packing For Mars was much heavier on history and narrative than I expected. Roach explores the psychological and physical issues surrounding space travel -- and all the crazy, intense, sometimes nasty experiments that happened along the way. Like poop. There’s a whole chapter on pooping in space. I definitely recommend it for fans of space travel who want to know some of the quirkier aspects of the space program. If you’re looking for something futuristic, this definitely isn’t it. The writing style was conversational, like a PBS documentary or a BBC radio story. ( ) Andibook | Jul 25, 2016 | Did you read/watch THE MARTIAN and want to learn more about surviving in space? If so, then this book is for you. From food and digestion, to communication and clothing, Mary Roach does her typical deep-dive into space travel and all its minutiae. Told with Mary Roach's trademark dry wit, this may be the funniest, most heartbreaking space travel book you'll ever read. Initially focusing on travel to Mars (a trip that would take 250 Earth-days each way), the author spends time discussing the history of space exploration so that the (non-scientific) reader has an understanding of how the methods and practicalities have evolved over the decades. This background information lays the foundation for an appreciation of modern-day space research and applications. The reader is also introduced to some of the men and women (and animals) who have played important roles in furthering space exploration. They include astronauts, scientists, engineers, and test subjects. Through their anecdotes and stories, the triumphs, hilarities, tragedies, mundane realities, and deep humanity of space travel are presented. This makes for an effective counter-point to the hard science that is prevalent throughout. BooksForYears | Jul 3, 2016 | Mary Roach keeps me entertained and informed at the same time. The subject matter of this one had me breaking out in giggles as I confronted the reality of the mundanes of space travel. How does one use the bathroom? What about B.O. and disintergrating clothes? This was a nice mix of the history of space travel, as well as what we are preparing to undertake. I am now a constant fan of Mary Roach. (  ) BrittanyLyn | Jun 23, 2016 | I still have lots of questions. And I'm tired of Roach's forced humor - I thought there was enough humor just from the situations and the people she interviewed. But there's some interesting nuggets information in this collection of anecdotes and mini-science lessons, so I don't regret the read. Roach informs us that wild dogs eat the stomach of their prey first, and that the contents of that herbivore give them their vegetables. Also that methane is odorless. Also that the 'aliens' at Roswell were dummy astronauts re' experiments on bailing out at altitude. I did listen to some of the audiobook, too, and the narrator did a great job. If you have a choice, go with the audio. (  ) Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Jun 6, 2016 | no reviews | add a review
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(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:11:38 -0400)
The 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 the author 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), she takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.… (more)
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3 editions of this book were published by Audible.com.
W.W. Norton2 editions of this book were published by W.W. Norton.
Editions: 0393068471, 0393339912
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