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From the book Packing for Mars:

This is the building with the mock-ups, some fifty in all — modules, airlocks, hatches, capsules.

What does some [number] in all mean? Does it mean there are fifty kinds of mockups, or there are fifty mockups, that each kind might have several of them?

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It's a way of saying the estimated total is around fifty (i.e. 50 + or - a few). Rewritten....

This is the building with the mock-ups, about fifty total -- modules, airlocks, hatches, capsules.

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  • Just to be clear, does it mean there are fifty kinds of mockups, or there are fifty mockups, that each kind might have several of them? – Ooker Jan 16 '18 at 3:24
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    It means there are fifty total mock-ups, composed of modules, airlocks, etc. – EllieK Jan 16 '18 at 13:52
  • Oh, so each mockup can be a (unique) combination of those parts? – Ooker Jan 16 '18 at 15:03
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    @Ooker No, that's not implied. The list after the dash (--) presents examples. Based on the sentence I would assume that a mock-up is an actual module, airlock, hatch, or capsule. These items are mocked-up. The sentence doesn't imply that combinations of those items are also mock-ups. – EllieK Jan 16 '18 at 15:14

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