Exploring the Fascinating Science of Life in Space: A Guide to Packing for Mars

lipsticklori: If you're like me and have ever wondered about the logistics about getting humans into space, including feeding and clothing them, then you'll love this book. Engagingly written and packed with interesting stories and facts, it was the perfect holiday read for me - easy to read but plenty to learn!

United Kingdom on Aug 30, 2023

Tony: Being born in 1969 I have an affinity for all things "space". Being a one time instructor-pilot and expecting a tome about the practical "techdata"
aspects and challenges of interplanetary exploration, I read Ms Roach's first few paragraphs and was transfixed. Never has such a complex subject been brought to the public eye with such MENSA-like , almost un-PC honesty and humanity and humour. Having no inherent interest in human - animal interactions I have learned and laughted from Ms Roach's subsequent publications.

United States on May 16, 2022

Sam K.: Not since Harry Winer’s 1986 movie Space Camp has a piece of space media seemed so personal and quirky as Mary Roach’s Packing for Mars (2010). The story of her journey of discovery resulting from her interest in the nuts and bolts of what it takes to make people a space-faring species, this book is must-read for anybody looking to know more about critical peripheral aspects of life off-planet.

The book is written through an agency lens, focusing primarily on NASA and several other nations’ space programs’ research and development over the last half century, and steers clear of the current celebrity of companies like SpaceX, Blue Origins, or Virgin Galactic. Nonetheless, the majority of the tech and interpersonal issues Roach explores (and is lucky enough to experience) in Packing for Mars are applicable in any space travel scenario, public or private.

Chapters involving the psychological effects of isolation and research into space madness, and what kind of characteristics make a good astronaut, open a view into the type of social and mental situations people are likely to encounter when more of us start taking the big leap. Practical chapters about food,...

United States on Apr 30, 2019

Deepak Kishen Kaul: ... yet very insightful. If you are into space travel etc, a must read. Great companion book to The Martian by Andy Weir.

India on Dec 24, 2017

George E. Smolka: Excellent treatment of a complex subject by Mary Roach who can handle some of the macabre aspects of this field with grace, honesty, and aplomb. There was a goodly amount of wry humor and a deliciously rebellious undercurrent that showed persistence, and toughness when dealing with laconic bureaucrats, mush mouthed public officials, forgetful space cowboys, timid mice, and not too open foreign participants. She debunks some of the "hero worship" myths about our space program while showing the hard work, long hours, and B_ _ _ _ _ _ t restrictions that these dedicated professionals underwent and are still undergoing to continue a seriously underfunded program, that is keeping us close to the front of space exploration as many other countries now join in and show "the right stuff". She seems to cover technical details quite well. Her treatment of skin biology, which I know something about, primate behavior under stressful conditions ( don't forget we're primates too), the daunting aspects of zero gravity (little things we take for granted- like taking a shower), the never ending problems of food in space, and the sequel, waste in space, muscle deterioration due to low gravity and...

United States on May 25, 2013

BrianB: This is a funny, entertaining, and scientifically literate introduction to the life of an astronaut, or more precisely, the way to keep an astronaut alive and well. Far from the romantic ideal of a star trek adventure, life in space has often been uncomfortable, disorienting and just plain boring. I enjoyed reading as Ms. Roach tagged along in parabolic flight (which gives a temporary sense of weightlessness), rode in Tom Cruise's stunt plane (did she really hurl her lunch into his chiseled face?), and After reading this book, I had a much understanding of the technical details of astronaut life, which adds to my fascination with space travel, but makes me happy that I never actually got on board.

Some parts of this book are not for the faint of stomach. Skip chapter six if you are the least bit susceptible to suggestions of nausea. There she dwells on the topic to the point of obsession. I once viewed a lecture on the subject by an anesthesiologist, wherein he rattled off over a dozen silly euphemisms for the act of losing your lunch, at which point the crowd had grown abnormally silent, except for a few anesthesiologists who were still laughing. Ms. Roach, I suspect,...

United States on Mar 07, 2013

Book 1981: Packing for Mars is an easily digestible, quirky and entertaining look at the strange paths science has to take to send human beings in to space. Rather than a techy information-overload of rocket-science, it is a lightweight look at stuff we can understand and relate to. It does not get more complicated than a brief, but interesting, description of what gravity is.

However, the light-heartedness does not detract from the book at all. In fact, it adds to it by constantly contrasting with NASA's complete lack of humour and self-irony. Roach has a delightful down-to-earth tone that easily pokes fun at stuffy space scientists and their self-important acronyms, at the same time as maintaining the required dose of respect for the brave astronauts and their families.

Special highlights are the transcripts of dialogue between the space stations and ground control, the numerous footnotes providing interesting asides, as well as Roach's great sense of humour throughout.

Entire chapters are devoted to issues such as how to you eat, have sex, go to the toilet and wash in zero gravity. This book is an unconventional and unfailingly entertaining look at basically...

United Kingdom on Jul 01, 2011

Mr. D. Hickey: This book contains a wealth of information on the nitty gritty of living with zero gravity. Everything from why vets took charge of nutrition in space to the amusing and embarrassingly yucky difficulties of taking calls of nature. It looks at the difficulties of showering, eating, motion sickness, cabin fever the list goes on. Everything you ever wanted to know about life in zero g and believe me a whole lot more. It's serious, it's funny, it's interesting and it's well worth a read. I really don't know where else you could find this stuff out. It's written in a down to earth manner (pun intended) by an author who has obviously, thoroughly investigated the material. I found a few paragraphs detailing the difficulties of practicing one's religion to be particularly hillarious. An interesting subject, an entertaining and informative author, a great read.

United Kingdom on Dec 05, 2010

Sirbu Mihai: If you've read any of Mary Roach's previous books and liked them, this is more of her (un)usual look at a topic. It seemed a bit lighter than Bonk and Stiff, but that might be because there wasn't so much historical background here (as opposed to Eros and Thanatos, which go all the way back to the beginning of life). That's why the chapter on looooong-term cohabitation in restricted space will probably stick the most in the reader's memory, while those on animals in space and testing zero-gravity food are interesting, but do not generate as many insights into the life of those forever destined to not go higher than the cruising altitude of a passenger airliner.

Roach documents as well (and first-hand) as she usually does the aspects of life in space, which might lead to a mission to Mars. It's captivating, enlightening and permeated by her enviable sense of humor.

United Kingdom on Sep 18, 2010