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.

瑪麗·羅琦Mary Roach

1959年齣生於美國新罕布什爾州漢諾威市，衛斯理大學心理學專業畢業，現為自由作傢，《美國國傢地理》、《新科學傢》、《連綫》的專欄撰稿人，《美國科學與自然寫作年度選2011年捲》主編，2012年獲得哈佛世俗協會頒發的拉什迪奬，同年還被Maximum Fun.org授予科學調查特彆奬。迄今已有五本科普暢銷書問世，風格幽默搞怪，可稱為當代最令人捧腹的科學作傢。

已齣版作品

《人類屍體的奇異生活》Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

《見鬼，科學推倒來世》Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

《科學碰撞“性”》Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

《消化道曆險記》Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal