Overview
Zero G, or the absence of gravity, is among the greatest challenges faced by explorers in space. This phenomenon of 'weightlessness', first encountered by Yuri Gagarin when he orbited the Earth in 1961, has intrigued the public imagination ever since, and provided a wide range of practical problems for scientists to address. As modern technological advances begin to make the prospect of longer space voyages a reality, the question of how humans can adapt to life in space becomes ever more acute.How is it possible to spend months inside a tiny metal capsule with only one or two others for company? How do astronauts eat and sleep in an environment where fresh food is unobtainable and nights last for 45 minutes? How do they exercise and keep fit, essential to prevent the problems of muscle wastage? How, above all, do they remain sane under the relentless stress of such an alien environment?
This highly topical book offers the most up-to-date solutions to these questions. Drawing upon the accumulated experience of over 400 astronauts and cosmonauts, Peter Bond explores the key issues of life without gravity, and describes the all-important processes of selection and training that enable these professionals to cope with any emergency.
He presents a fascinating perspective on four decades of human space travel, including the remarkable but troubled history of the Mir space complex, and on exciting future plans for the International Space Station - the largest structure ever to be placed in the Earth's orbit.