The Ordinary Spaceman

by Clayton C. Anderson
The Ordinary Spaceman
Author: Clayton C. Anderson
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 460
Release: 2015-06
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0803277318
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What's it like to travel at more than 850 MPH, riding in a supersonic T-38 twin turbojet engine airplane? What happens when the space station toilet breaks? How do astronauts "take out the trash" on a spacewalk, tightly encapsulated in a space suit with just a few layers of fabric and Kevlar between them and the unforgiving vacuum of outer space? The Ordinary Spaceman puts you in the flight suit of U.S. astronaut Clayton C. Anderson and takes you on the journey of this small-town boy from Nebraska who spent 167 days living and working on the International Space Station, including nearly forty hours of space walks. Having applied to NASA fifteen times over fifteen years to become an astronaut before his ultimate selection, Anderson offers a unique perspective on his life as a veteran space flier, one characterized by humility and perseverance. From the application process to launch aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, from serving as a family escort for the ill-fated Columbia crew in 2003 to his own daily struggles--family separation, competitive battles to win coveted flight assignments, the stress of a highly visible job, and the ever-present risk of having to make the ultimate sacrifice--Anderson shares the full range of his experiences. With a mix of levity and gravitas, Anderson gives an authentic view of the highs and the lows, the triumphs and the tragedies of life as a NASA astronaut.

A is for Astronaut

by Clayton Anderson
A is for Astronaut
Author: Clayton Anderson
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2018-03-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1534123008
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Winner! 2019 Nebraska Book Award Retired astronaut Clayton Anderson takes readers on an A to Z flight through the alphabet from astronaut and blastoff to spacewalk and Zulu Time. Topics cover the history of NASA, science, and practical aspects of being an astronaut using fun poems for each letter paired with longer expository text in the sidebars. Perfect for science buffs, budding astronauts, and astronomy lovers of all ages.

It's a Question of Space

by Clayton C. Anderson
It's a Question of Space
Author: Clayton C. Anderson
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 221
Release: 2018-07-01
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
ISBN: 1496205081
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Having spent over 150 days on his first tour of the International Space Station, it’s safe to say that Clayton C. Anderson knows a thing or two about space travel. Now retired and affectionately known as “Astro Clay” by his many admirers on social media and the Internet, Anderson has fielded thousands of questions over the years about spaceflight, living in space, and what it’s like to be an astronaut. Written with honesty and razor-sharp wit, It’s a Question of Space gathers Anderson’s often humorous answers to these questions and more in a book that will beguile young adults and space buffs alike. Covering topics as intriguing as walking in space, what astronauts are supposed to do when they see UFOs, and what role astronauts play in espionage, Anderson’s book is written in an accessible question-and-answer format that covers nearly all aspects of life in space imaginable. From living in zero gravity to going to the bathroom up there, It’s a Question of Space leaves no stone unturned in this witty firsthand account of life as an astronaut.

Spaceman of Bohemia

by Jaroslav Kalfar
Spaceman of Bohemia
Author: Jaroslav Kalfar
Publisher: Little, Brown
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2017-03-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0316273406
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An intergalactic odyssey of love, ambition, and self-discovery. Orphaned as a boy, raised in the Czech countryside by his doting grandparents, Jakub Prochv°zka has risen from small-time scientist to become the country's first astronaut. When a dangerous solo mission to Venus offers him both the chance at heroism he's dreamt of, and a way to atone for his father's sins as a Communist informer, he ventures boldly into the vast unknown. But in so doing, he leaves behind his devoted wife, Lenka, whose love, he realizes too late, he has sacrificed on the altar of his ambitions. Alone in Deep Space, Jakub discovers a possibly imaginary giant alien spider, who becomes his unlikely companion. Over philosophical conversations about the nature of love, life and death, and the deliciousness of bacon, the pair form an intense and emotional bond. Will it be enough to see Jakub through a clash with secret Russian rivals and return him safely to Earth for a second chance with Lenka? Rich with warmth and suspense and surprise, Spaceman of Bohemia is an exuberant delight from start to finish. Very seldom has a novel this profound taken readers on a journey of such boundless entertainment and sheer fun. "A frenetically imaginative first effort, booming with vitality and originality . . . Kalfar's voice is distinct enough to leave tread marks."-Jennifer Senior, New York Times

Forever Young

by John W Young
Forever Young
Author: John W Young
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2012-09-16
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 081304281X
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He walked on the Moon. He flew six space missions in three different programs--more than any other human. He served with NASA for more than four decades. His peers called him the "astronaut's astronaut." Enthusiasts of space exploration have long waited for John Young to tell the story of his two Gemini flights, his two Apollo missions, the first-ever Space Shuttle flight, and the first Spacelab mission. Forever Young delivers all that and more: Young's personal journey from engineering graduate to fighter pilot, to test pilot, to astronaut, to high NASA official, to clear-headed predictor of the fate of Planet Earth. Young, with the assistance of internationally distinguished aerospace historian James Hansen, recounts the great episodes of his amazing flying career in fascinating detail and with wry humor. He portrays astronauts as ordinary human beings and NASA as an institution with the same ups and downs as other major bureaucracies. He frankly discusses the risks of space travel, including what went wrong with the Challenger and Columbia shuttles. Forever Young is one of the last memoirs produced by an early American astronaut. It is the first memoir written by a chief of the NASA astronaut corps. Young's experiences and candor make this book indispensable to everyone interested in the U.S. space program.

Spaceman

by Mike Massimino
Spaceman
Author: Mike Massimino
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2016-10-04
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1471149552
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'This terrific memoir... is utterly gripping' Mail on Sunday ‘Read this book and be inspired to reach for the impossible’ Brian Greene Many children dream of becoming an astronaut when they grow up, but when a six-year-old Mike Massimino saw Neil Armstrong walk on the moon he knew what he wanted to do when he became an adult. But NASA rejected him; then when he applied again they turned him down because of his poor eyesight. For the next year he trained his eyes to work better and finally, at the third time of asking, NASA accepted him. So began Massimino's 18-year career as an astronaut, and the extraordinary lengths he went to to get accepted was only the beginning. In this awe-inspiring memoir, he reveals the hard work, camaraderie and sheer guts involved in the life of an astronaut; he vividly describes what it is like to strap yourself into the Space Shuttle and blast off into space, or the sensation of walking in space, as he did when he completed a mission to service the Hubble telescope. He also talks movingly about the Columbia tragedy, and how it felt to step into the Space Shuttle again in the aftermath of that disaster. Massimino was inspired by the film The Right Stuff, and this book is not only a tribute to those fellow astronauts he worked with, but also a stunning example of someone who had exactly those attributes himself.

Letters from Space

by Clayton C. Anderson
Letters from Space
Author: Clayton C. Anderson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2020
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781534110748
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"Astronaut Clayton Anderson lived aboard the International Space Station--and while he didn't mail letters home, imagine if he did! These letters are full of weird science, wild facts, and outrageous true stories from life in space. Backmatter includes even more information on space, astronauts, and living among the stars"--

The Right Stuff

by Tom Wolfe
The Right Stuff
Author: Tom Wolfe
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Total Pages: 370
Release: 2008-03-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 1429961325
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Tom Wolfe at his very best" (The New York Times Book Review), The Right Stuff is the basis for the 1983 Oscar Award-winning film of the same name and the 8-part Disney+ TV mini-series. From "America's nerviest journalist" (Newsweek)--a breath-taking epic, a magnificent adventure story, and an investigation into the true heroism and courage of the first Americans to conquer space. " Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers, that made The Right Stuff a classic.

SpaceMan

by Tom Abrahams
SpaceMan
Author: Tom Abrahams
Publisher: Piton Press LLC
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2021-10-17
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:
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Embark on an extraordinary journey beyond the bounds of Earth with "SPACEMAN" - a heart-pounding post-apocalyptic thriller that will leave you breathless from the very first page. Cayton Shepard, an intrepid astronaut, finds himself 249 miles above the Earth's surface when disaster strikes. In an instant, the lights go out, plunging him into the eerie darkness of space. Cut off from all communication and armed with limited power, he clings to an unyielding determination to reunite with his beloved family. Stranded aboard the International Space Station, Shepard's unwavering goal becomes clear: to find his way back home against all odds. With resourcefulness as his only ally, he must rely on his intellect and ingenuity to navigate the vast expanse of the cosmos and overcome the formidable challenges that lie ahead. As Shepard battles against the relentless void of space, his mind races with uncertainty. What awaits him on Earth? Will he be greeted by a world forever changed? With each passing moment, the suspense builds, fueling the desperate pursuit of answers. "SPACEMAN" is a riveting fusion of post-apocalyptic and dystopian storytelling, masterfully crafted to immerse you in a world teetering on the edge of destruction. Authored with the invaluable insights of former astronauts, NASA team members, and esteemed astrophysicists, this tale pulsates with a unique sense of detail and desperation that will captivate your imagination. Prepare to be spellbound as you join Clayton Shepard on his quest for survival, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death. "SPACEMAN" deftly captures the human spirit's indomitable will in the face of unimaginable challenges, exploring themes of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us to our loved ones. Don't miss your chance to experience the awe-inspiring adventure of "SPACEMAN." Acquire your copy now and be transported into a world where the vast expanse of space becomes both a haunting backdrop and a relentless adversary. Remember, even in the darkest void, the flame of hope burns brightest.