Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

Roach positions herself as a well-informed outsider. What is the purpose of this role? How does she mediate between technical/scientific writing and popular writing?

What does Roach mean when she states, “Space doesn’t just encompass the sublime and the ridiculous. It erases the line between” (18). What are some examples that illustrate the mixture of the sublime and ridiculous?

How do gender and cultural differences affect space travel? Does Roach represent space as a realm of social change and progress, or a reification of the status quo?

How persuasive is Roach’s defense of continued funding for a Mars mission? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such an expedition?

How has the image of the astronaut changed throughout the years? From Roach’s perspective, what does it mean to be a hero?

Roach indulges in numerous footnotes in Packing for Mars. What is their function? What do they add to the book as a whole?

Roach writes from a highly subjective perspective, delves into opinion, and does not attempt to establish a neutral voice. What effect does this authorial voice have on the tradition of scientific objectivity?

Roach is fascinated by the various simulations that scientists use to study the human body’s response in space. However, in her final chapter, she argues that simulations are no comparison to a real landing on Mars. According to Roach, what are the benefits and disadvantages of simulations?