Packing For Mars: The Curious Science Of Life In The Void Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
“America’s funniest science writer” (Washington Post) returns to explore the irresistibly strange universe of life without gravity in this New York Times bestseller. 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.
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (April 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393339912
ISBN-13: 978-0393339918
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (514 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #15,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2 in Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Mars #10 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Aerospace > Astronautics & Space Flight #22 in Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Aeronautics & Astronautics
It seems like a previous life: the mid-1980s and NASA's program to send the first American "civilian" into space. I was interested, then sidelined when applications were restricted to teachers, then stunned by Challenger's launch disaster. But now I'm delighted to get a sort of ride-along with the clever and uber-curious Mary Roach in PACKING FOR MARS.She begins: "To the rocket scientist, you are a problem. You are the most irritating piece of machinery he or she will ever have to deal with." And then she dives in to explore that human machinery in space and how everything -- procedures, equipment and supplies -- is designed to best serve it.Through examples from animal simulations and crash-test cadavers, the race-for-space/ shuttle/ space-station projects, and planning Mars-length missions, she examines astronaut selection; the effects of isolation, inactivity and cramped spaces; the spectrum from weightlessness to multiple g-forces; eating, eliminating, and hygiene; and ... well, enough with the listmaking; it hints at dull and anyone who's read Roach knows she doesn't do dull. Instead, she mines excellent and surprising facts about physics and biology -- and what most captures me is her practicality, for example this from a passage about religious observations aboard the international space station: "Zero gravity and a ninety-minute orbital day created so many questions for Muslim astronauts that a [guideline] was drafted. Rather than require [them] to pray five times during each ninety-minute orbit of Earth, they were allowed to go by the twenty-four-hour cycle of the launch location." How to stay oriented toward Mecca at such speed and prostrate oneself in weightlessness are also addressed.
Combine equal parts of Sylvia Branzei's 'Grossology' and the Bathroom Readers' Institute's 'Uncle John's Bathroom Reader' series, make mention of something coming out of (or going into) the anus in nearly every chapter, add a thin pretext of future Mars expeditions, then glaze it over with stories of Astro-chimp masturbation and prehensile dolphin penises - Voila! - You now have an idea of what to expect from Mary Roach's 'Packing for Mars.' (Be sure to wash it all down with a nice chilled glass of charcoal filtered urine - Ms. Roach describes this beverage as "sweet...restorative and surprisingly drinkable" - Yum).Okay...perhaps the aforementioned description of 'Packing for Mars' is hyperbolic and a little bit unfair. To her credit, Ms. Roach seems to have put forth painstaking efforts in her research (she also includes long, ancillary foot notes on almost every page of her book). Moreover, through her emails and interviews with cosmonauts, astronauts, NASA personnel, etc., she manages to coax some rather candid information about seldom discussed issues/problems associated with space travel (e.g., personal hygiene, lavatory practices, sexual activity, etc.) Parts of this book were truly insightful, and from that perspective, I say "kudos" to Ms. Roach for her efforts.That being said, I have to honestly admit that I was relieved to finally finish the book.
The MARS Series, Books 1-5 [Unabridged CD] by Edgar Rice Burroughs (A PRINCESS OF MARS, THE GODS OF MARS, THE WARLORD OF MARS, THUVIA, MAID OF MARS, THE CHESSMEN OF MARS) Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void Curious Baby Music Play (Curious George Board Book & CD) (Curious Baby Curious George) The Dreaming Void: Void Trilogy, Book 1 The Temporal Void: Void Trilogy, Book 2 The Evolutionary Void: Void Trilogy, Book 3 The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, (Mars Series, Book 3) from Books In Motion.com (John Carter of Mars) The Gods Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Mars Series, Book 2) from Books In Motion.com The Warlord of Mars (John Carter of Mars) Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Mars Series, Book 4) from Books In Motion.com A Princess of Mars (John Carter of Mars) The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs(Mars Series, Book 5) from Books In Motion.com Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris Vol. 1: Colossus of Mars Humble before the Void: A Western Astronomer, His Journey East, and a Remarkable Encounter between Western Science and Tibetan Buddhism Packing Iron: Gunleather of the Frontier West Pacific American Fisheries, Inc.: History of a Washington State Salmon Packing Company, 1890-1966 Pilgrim Tips & Packing List Camino de Santiago: What you need to know beforehand, what you need to take, and what you can leave at home. The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget: Advice on Trip Planning, Packing, Hostels & Lodging, Transportation & More! Curious George Curious About Phonics 12 Book Set Keep Curious and Carry a Banana: Words of Wisdom from the World of Curious George
