A Day in Space

The authors went to a NASA astronaut to find out what it takes to prepare for a mission, and what life on the space shuttle is like. They answer perennial questions about space (such as how do astronauts go to the bathroom? and where do they spit their toothpaste?) And they pin down exact details about the moment of actual take-off, the sensations of weightlessness (""Don't cry! Your tears will float around. And please try not to sneeze!''), and the scary first step of a space walk. Results of some experiments are discussed: oil and water do mix in space, it takes flies a couple of days to learn how to get around, and marbles ``catch'' each other and form little circles. The color photos are rather ordinary, more like family snapshots than professional takes. But the book's tone is intimate, and the reader becomes part of the crew, on a real day in space. (58)