Packing for Mars

Life in space is very different to life on Earth. Many problems have needed to be solved to enable people to travel in space, and for longer trips there are going to be even more problems to be faced In Packing for Mars: the curious science of life in the void Mary Roach gives a glimpse into the studies which have been done to help make living in space more like normal life.

Being cooped up in a box in close proximity to a few companions for months on end is stressful enough. Then there's Zero G - fun for a while, but over the long term not likely to be good for your health. If you can take that then there's the high G experience on take off and landing. If something goes wrong, what are the chances of escape? Even everyday things can be a problem - keeping clean, having a healthy diet and going to the toilet. Is sex in space a possibility?

One thing which Roach highlights is the large number of simulations of living in space which have been undertaken - every procedure carried out in space is first simulated on earth, and some people have spend months lying down to simulate the health effects of weightlessness.

If you're looking for a serious look at the problems of space travel then this book might not be for you, as it does play for laughs quite a bit, and often becomes rather scatological. But it does have answers to the sorts of questions which you've probably wondered about, and provides an excellent way of amusing yourself for a few hours.