Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
by Mary Roach
Description
What happens to the human body when gravity disappears? In this irreverent and thoroughly entertaining exploration, Mary Roach investigates the bizarre science behind space travel and life in the void, from the mundane challenges of hygiene and nutrition to the genuinely dangerous questions of human survival in an environment fundamentally hostile to life. Drawing on her signature blend of humor and rigorous research, Roach takes readers behind the scenes of NASA's most peculiar simulations and experiments—including crash tests with cadavers and the surprisingly complex engineering of space toilets—to reveal what astronauts must endure and adapt to in pursuit of the cosmos. Through interviews with space scientists and firsthand accounts of the strangest preparations imaginable, she explores the deeper question of what space exploration reveals about human resilience and our capacity to embrace the utterly weird. Equal parts scientific inquiry and comedic adventure, this book transforms the abstract wonder of space travel into a visceral, laugh-out-loud examination of what it truly means to leave Earth behind.
Available Editions
paperback
National Geographic Books
Published Aug 17, 2010
ISBN: 9780393068474
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Details
First Published
2010
Language
en
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.