Packing for Mars

Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: Norton. 2011. Print

First Sentences:

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. You and your fluctuating metabolism, your puny memory, your frame that comes in a million different configurations. You are unpredictable. You're inconsistant. You take weeks to fix.

Description:

As the United States and other nations begin to seriously consider travel to Mars we, the uninformed public, have serious questions that need answers. Not about the logistics of propulsion, the shielding of radiation, the merits of various shelters, and the cost behind such an endeavor. No, we need information about how toilets work in zero gravity, can one bathe en route to Mars, and, of course, what about sex?

To address these and other vital questions about Mars space travel, we have Mary Roach and her remarkably clear, scientific, and quirky book, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. Roach presents chapters to describe real problems faced by Mars astronauts and then provides the solutions currently being explored, such as: 

• "The Perilous Psychology of Isolation and Confinement"
• "Throwing Up and Down: The Astronauts' Secret Misery"
• "Space Hygiene and the Men Who Stopped Bathing for Science"
• "Mating Without Gravity" 

Roach is a member of the Mars Institute's Advisory Board, so has the background and resources to pursue and explain these and a multitude of other questions for lay readers. She clearly relishes researching interesting topics that have a humorous twist. Previous books by Roach include Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife.

Packing for Mars does not disappoint either in content or writing. From her opening sentences explaining that man is the weakest component in space travel, to her final thoughts on whether Mars is worth the trouble if you have to drink your own urine (filtered) or eat your dirty clothes for their keratin protein fibers. 

There is plenty more appetizing information bit found in this book, all of it based on interviews with space experts, exhaustively researched, and even experienced by Roach herself:

• She visits the Japanese astronaut training program and watches them fold paper into a thousand cranes to test the accuracy and concentration and patience of trainees during isolation to deal with mundane tasks; 
• She tests a mockup of the Russian Mir space station in Moscow that is so small it would "fit in a Greyhoud bus" with sleep chambers like "phone booths";  
• She rides in the Small Pressurized Rover simulator at the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station in the Canadian far north;
• She experiences weightlessness with a team during a NASA training program.

To understand zero gravity, Roach boards the C-9 transport plane that climbs high, then drops rapidly in a long swoop. But along with weightlessness comes nausea for many people, including 50 - 75% of all astronauts. Thus the C-9 carries the nickname, the "Vomit Comet." Roach gamely notes how this "in-helmet upchuck" reality of the Mars trip is being addressed via biofeedback.

Many other interviews with scientists reveal their real concerns about landing the spacecraft; creating prototype vehicles for Marscapes; preventing perspiration and the accompanying odors from sweat-soaked clothes; exercise; escape suits; and of course the use of toilets in zero gravity.

I won't spoil the chapter about sex in space. Suffice to say, Roach talks with researchers who observe movements of seals and dolphins with their mates. For further insight, she bravely watches a three-part porno film and discusses with the director the scenes supposed shot in zero gravity.

All in all, a wonderfully informative, thought-provoking, and thoroughly entertaining look at the world of long-range space travel. Her closing words sum up her philosophy of life, man, and space travel:

"The nobility of the human spirit grows harder for me to believe in. War, zealotry, greed, malls, narcissism. I see a backhanded nobility in excessive, impractical outlays of cash prompted by nothing loftier than a species joining hands and saying 'I bet we can to this.' Yes, the money could be better spent on Earth. But would it? Since when has money saved by government redlining been spent on education and cancer research? It is always squandered. Let's squander some on Mars. Let's go and play."

Couldn't agree more.

Happy reading. 


Fred

www.firstsentencereader.blogspot.com

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If this book interests you, be sure to check out:

Collins, Michael. Mission to Mars  

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Aldrin, Buzz. Mission to Mars  

Completely new take in 2013 for a realistic flight to Mars from another Apollo 11 astronaut and Moonwalker. Very timely as the United States is now seriously considering such a mission

Bradbury, Ray. The Martian Chronicles  

One of the best science fiction portrayals of Mars ever, telling wonderous tales chronologically of man exploring Mars, from the first landings and encounters with Martians, to the final missions. Fabulous.