Mary Roach has a talent. I have also read her book Stiff, and I am amazed at how simple she makes complicated studies and concepts. For example, Stiff was a book about human cadavers, dead bodies. At first I didn't think I would be able to get through even a chapter of that book because it's subject was so repulsive. But, before I knew it, I had reached the final page. This book is reading much the same way.
Roach was very right in the introduction; humans are indeed the most complicated component of rocket science. Not just anyone has what it takes to make it to the moon and back. Chapter one really proved this point to me through the explanation of the Japanese astronaut selection process. First of all, the idea of being isolated for a week sounds horrible, especially being isolated with other people! Whether you are previously acquainted or not, that's a lot of time to spend with someone. Personally, I value my alone time almost more than I do my time with others, even those that I love. I just need my space. Obviously, I am not well equipped for rocket science. However, I feel that this is a very accurate measure of one's capability to travel on a space mission because you are indeed isolated with your partner in close quarters for a length of time.
I was also very impressed by the challenge of folding one thousand paper swans in a week's time. That task requires dedication, patience, and attention to detail, The analysis of the strands can tell you how rushed or patient, or how sloppy or detail oriented a person is, especially under those circumstances. Can you even imagine sitting in a room with the same people, all day every day, doing the same exact thing, for seven consecutive days? I am very confident that I could not accomplish even one day of that task. Any normal person would have to be insane by the end of that week, but those who have the patience and perseverance to accomplish it are the ones who have what it takes to go on a space mission. Remaining calm and thorough under pressure is essential.
She did mention that we do not do an isolation test in the United States for our astronauts, but I think we should. as horrible as it sounds, I think that it has to be very effective. I never really put much thought into what it takes to become an astronaut because I have never aspired to become one. Now that I have read the first few chapters of Packing For Mars, I actually want to know more. Once again, Mary Roach has gotten me hooked on one of her books.
I loved your confession. To this day my all time favorite study in all of my school years was a few weeks in 7th grade when we studied cadavers. Who would have thought? I just knew it would make me sick but the more we learned about the science of it all, the more fascinating I found it. I remember so many small details like morticians needing to learn how to sniff water because the scent molecules of rotting bodies clings to the hairs of the nose, resulting in the smell of it for days after being around the body. While I don't know if I could even bring myself to be around this stuff in real life, it was so interesting! Humans and our bodies are extremely perplexing.
ReplyDelete