Outward Bound

 

(First posted on tumblr 11/14/2015)

I found an animation: “The helical model - our solar system is a vortex” by DjSadhu on YouTube here.

The animation can’t be quite right or parts of Earth would never see the sun at all.  Still, the galaxy does rotate and revolve, so nothing is in the same place from moment to moment.  Did I just inadvertently slide left a bit?  Anyway, the vortex image does emphasize two notions:  1) space travel is complicated (aiming to hit a moving target while moving,) and 2) Earth is a living spaceship hurtling through the void. So, why are humans so intent upon breaking the life support system?

Read The Martian first.  Andy Weir stated in an interview that at least one fatal mistake in his Martian engineering has been brought to his attention, but by then, the book was published.  So, as with Verne and Heinlein and Bujold, Asimov and Asaro, suspend your disbelief and enjoy a great adventure as Mark Watney endeavors NOT to become the first person to die on Mars.

I suspect, but do not know, that in addition to a great deal of science geekiness, Weir may also have read Mary Roach’s foray into the inventive minds of NASA scientists working on the very complex challenge of helping the human body survive in outer space.  In Packing for Mars, Roach has collected the ideas, experiments, and potential solutions to problems ranging from welding in freefall to months of isolation, from diet to voiding in a void, and organized them for us with her usual hilarious insight.

Speaking of welding . . . .

Always assuming humans conquer the basic challenges of a human surviving in The Void, what does it take to thrive in freefall?  Weightlessness has been shown to present significant issues including warped bone growth.  Lois McMasters Bujold tackles this scenario in Falling Free by genetically engineering a new type of human being, one so well adapted to freefall that living a meaningful life on a planet is virtually impossible.  What would be most useful to a group of people living their entire lives weightless?  After addressing the bone density and musculature issues, an extra set of hands would really help, wouldn’t it?  Leo is an engineering teacher brought in to instruct the young quaddies in welding.  When the invention of an artificial gravity machine renders the new humans obsolete, the corporation responsible for developing this new form of humanity decides to terminate the experiment.

I wonder how birds handle freefall?  Have to admit thinking I would miss birdsong most in space.

What would I pack for Mars?  A vacuum cleaner.

-- Xina Lowe, Librarian