Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void (Unabridged)
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3.8 • 34 Ratings
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- $25.99
Publisher Description
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Get ready for a fascinating romp through the history of space travel. Best-selling journalist Mary Roach takes us on a mind-blowing journey in this impeccably researched listen. Seriously—she talks to everyone from retired Russian cosmonauts to American and Japanese cosmologists and engineers, all to explore the nuts and bolts of getting a human being out of the Earth’s atmosphere (and bringing them safely back again!). Lively and approachable, Roach tells us about surprising and often-comical tests and simulations measuring how people can survive re-entry, function in zero gravity, and much more. Veteran voice actor Sandra Barr narrates it all with a wonderfully dry deadpan wit. If you’ve ever dreamed about blasting into space yourself, this is an absolute must-listen.
Customer Reviews
See All30 sec preview is all we get??
come on apple. do a better job pitching this.
Bad Preview, Great Book
Yes, its true, the preview is useless. The book however is great. Reader is good, not as good as "Stiff"s reader, but this reader gets Roach's sarcasm and wit... and isn't that why you love Mary Roach? This book will not disappoint.
Everything you wanted to know about living in space but were too afraid to ask!
Don't let the comments about the bad preview scare you off - they always take it from the first page or two and in this case it happens to be a list of events - bummer but oh well. The narrator is great and the book is too. If you ever wanted to know the details of what it takes to keep people alive during missions into space then grab this book! It was great.