“At last, science for English majors! While Roach’s research is in-depth (she rides the vomit comet to experience weightlessness, conducts countless interviews with astronauts and scientists and studies the history of the space programs world-wide) it’s always (ironically?) down-to-earth. It’s also laugh-out-loud funny as she recounts the difficulties of eating, exercising, dressing and performing toilet functions in zero gravity. Training toilets! Appetite suppressants? Sex in space? (No one’s talking.) All this while confined to a cramped, claustrophobic capsule without bathing for days, sometimes weeks. Things we don’t necessarily think about, scientists did, and do. Roach tells us all about it and, at the same time, acknowledges the accomplishments, sacrifices and successes of the space programs. Endlessly entertaining, informative and thought-provoking, I highly recommend it.”—Barb, Paulina Springs Books, with locations in Redmond and Sisters, OR. Buy Packing for Mars from Paulina Springs Books.
Face Out
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
July 22, 2011