I enjoyed reading, Packing for Mars, it opened my eyes to something I did not know much about. As I was reading, I cringed at the thought of being trapped in a small place for days, weeks, even months. The grueling process and rules that volunteers and actual astronauts have to withstand amaze me, it most defiantly takes a special person to be able to handle it. The chapter that stood out to me the most in Packing for Mars, was chapter 2, Life in a box.
This chapter covered how important it is to study the psychological aspects of the individuals in this situation. One thing that I found really fascinating is the huge issue of astronauts being reluctant to show emotion, because they fear the possibility of loosing their spot. "It's a dangerous state of affairs. If someone on board a space craft is reaching the breaking point, it's important for ground control to know about it. People's lives depend on them knowing that"(Roach, 50). This proves how much the crew relies on one another for their own safety, so being taught how to get along and express their emotions is a very important issue that needs to be dealt with before they take off for space.
Another thing that stood out to me later in the chapter was when she covered how hard it is for astronauts, well anyone, to comprehend being in a place that seems so unnatural. You can see how easy it would be to drive yourself crazy, trying not to lose reality in a place that seems so unreal.
I would have a really difficult time being cooped up in a space shuttle for any given amount of time. Just thinking about the title of the chapter makes me have anxiety. I would not be able to go through the training or even force myself to not show emotion when it comes to handling different situations that they have to go through to get to where they are. It's so hard to imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut and be in a particular place with no other life forms around you. I understand that there are ways of communication, but I would not put myself in a situation where my life would be surrounded by walls all the time. This was an interesting chapter for me as well. I give all those that go through this training major kudos. I really enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteI also couldn't imagine myself living in a box. I have such a phobia of confined spaces that I would not be able to do what the astronauts do. I would also have a hard time keeping my emotions in check. It is sad in a way that they are afraid to show their true selves in fear that they won't be chosen for the mission. If that is what is important to them though they are willing to do what is necessary. Thank you for an enjoyable post.
ReplyDeleteI can not begin to imagine! I recently went on a mine tour and as we were descending to a depth of 300 feet, I had that horrible panic feeling, part of me wanted to start hyperventilating but the rational part saved me. I felt a sense of relief when we were lifted back out less than an hour later. I would fail the psychological test in the first day. I could handle other people but the tight space and the fact that you cannot escape not to mention the fact that at any moment something could go wrong and your life could be over in a matter of seconds. A boring office job is where you will find me.
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