I wrapped up "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void" by Mary Roach last night. Roach explores what happens to the human body during space flight. It's a very entertaining and somewhat educational read. Topics range from early concerns about zero-g (a couple concerns were that the heart wouldn't function and that eyes would deform, rendering the astronaut blind) to food to motion sickness.
She explores some more taboo subjects as well. The sections on bathroom use was particularly humorous and really painted a picture of the challenges of space. Another brief section covered sex and whether it has happened in flight yet. Not particularly enlightening but it served as to introduce some of the challenges of long duration space flight and the psychological challenges it presents.
Her wit and fast pace make it an enjoyable read. I've read quite a bit about the space program so some of this wasn't exactly fresh to me. It did provide a good amount of history and information about the less glamorous parts of being an astronaut. It actually sounds pretty terrible aside from the fact that you're weightlessly traveling around the earth at 17,500mph.
I've read another book by this author and would recommend it over this one. It's called "Stiff" and tells the story of what happens to the body after you die. It sounds morbid, and at times it is, but it is also very interesting.
I probably won't be posting for a while as I've started book 3 of the "A song of Ice and Fire" series. It is quite long.
She explores some more taboo subjects as well. The sections on bathroom use was particularly humorous and really painted a picture of the challenges of space. Another brief section covered sex and whether it has happened in flight yet. Not particularly enlightening but it served as to introduce some of the challenges of long duration space flight and the psychological challenges it presents.
Her wit and fast pace make it an enjoyable read. I've read quite a bit about the space program so some of this wasn't exactly fresh to me. It did provide a good amount of history and information about the less glamorous parts of being an astronaut. It actually sounds pretty terrible aside from the fact that you're weightlessly traveling around the earth at 17,500mph.
I've read another book by this author and would recommend it over this one. It's called "Stiff" and tells the story of what happens to the body after you die. It sounds morbid, and at times it is, but it is also very interesting.
I probably won't be posting for a while as I've started book 3 of the "A song of Ice and Fire" series. It is quite long.
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