Astronaut Program

In 1978, the first group of space shuttle astronauts was introduced to the world - 29 men and six women who would carry NASA through the most tumultuous years of the space shuttle program. Among them was USAF Colonel Mike Mullane, who, in his memoir Riding Rockets, strips the heroic veneer from the astronaut corps and paints them as they are - human.

Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts offers an insider's guide to astronauting—a behind-the-scenes look at the training, the basic rules, lessons, and procedures of space travel, including how to deal with a dead body in space, what it’s like to film an IMAX movie in orbit, what exactly to do when nature calls, and much more, in 51 brief chapters.

By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months.

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, and been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Col. Hadfield's success - and survival - is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst and enjoy every moment of it.

Getting to the moon was Chris's lifelong dream. And he had the brains, body, and boldness to do it—that is, until he lost his legs in a motorcycle accident. Even then, the universe found a way to make that dream happen when a private tech company offered him his shot at lunar glory—that is, until his ship exploded after liftoff. Suddenly, somehow, Chris finds himself transported to a new world—and a new body. A goblin body. No . . . a goblin king body!

This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young students. It's the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

Der neue Science-Fiction-Thriller von Andy Weir, dem Autor des Weltbestsellers "Der Marsianer". Als Ryland Grace erwacht, muss er feststellen, dass er ganz allein ist. Er ist anscheinend der einzige Überlebende einer Raumfahrtmission, Millionen Kilometer von zu Hause entfernt, auf einem Flug ins Tau-Ceti-Sternsystem. Aber was erwartet ihn dort? Und warum sind alle anderen Besatzungsmitglieder tot? Nach und nach dämmert es Grace, dass von seinem Überleben nicht nur die Mission, sondern die Zukunft der gesamten Erdbevölkerung abhängt.

An epic memoir from a man whose life is defined by exploration and innovation, The Sky Below re-creates some of the most unforgettable adventures of our time. From dramatic, high-risk spacewalks to author Scott Parazynski's death-defying quest to summit Mount Everest - his body ravaged by a career in space - listeners will experience the life of an elite athlete, physician, and explorer.

Embark on a thrilling journey through one of NASA's most pivotal space programs in "Project Gemini: The Bridge to the Moon." Spanning twelve missions over five transformative years, Project Gemini was the crucial link between the early manned spaceflights of Project Mercury and the monumental achievements of Apollo. This comprehensive chronology delves into the intricacies of each mission, highlighting the technological advancements and human ingenuity that propelled America toward the moon. The constellation for which the project was named, Gemini, is commonly pronounced /ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/, ...

As the place where aircraft launch into space, the Kennedy Space Center is truly where space exploration begins. In this first of a three-part series, you'll learn why the Kennedy Space Center continues to be one of the most impactful sites in aviation history. Everyone has heard of NASA, but you won't get the full picture unless you understand the significance of the Kennedy Space Center. This book covers the Kennedy Space Center's history, from its beginnings post-World War II to its involvement in current launches. Far from being a sideshow for NASA, it's an essential part of NASA's ...

Deep space is a “serial killer” Deep space will be invariably deadly, reveal scientific studies of subjects from cells to humans. Astronauts cannot survive the intense radiation, weightlessness, toxic chemicals, disease, and other hazards beyond Earth orbit. Like old-time serial-circuit Christmas lights, in which losing one bulb extinguished all, a single medical catastrophe will end in astronauts’ death or disability. Any organ—heart, lungs, immune system, brain, or eyes—could fail. And the loss of one spacecraft system—oxygen, temperature, food, water, or radiation protection...

An inspirational memoir of space exploration and hard-won wisdom, from an astronaut who has spent a lifetime making the impossible a reality. Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie's ‘Space Oddity' in space.

To the Moon is an exciting and well-written autobiography by Rosemary Roosa, the daughter of Apollo 14 Astronaut, Stu Roosa. The introduction is by Apollo 16 Astronaut, Charlie Duke, and the book is endorsed by Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise. To the Moon captures the essence of the space race days and then takes you on a journey to the moon and back. Rosemary Roosa describes her adventurous life with her parents and her career. To the Moon is a touching memoir of a child whose father ventured to another celestial body - the moon - and how that impacted her life. It is the first full-length ...

Astronaut Regina “Reggie” Hayes wants to be the first woman on the moon - it’s all she’s ever dreamed of. But after a PR disaster, Reggie is off the list for a lunar mission. To rehabilitate her reputation with NASA, she agrees to a different kind of assignment: astronaut “training” with a Hollywood action hero. Jon Leo is a charmer. With credits that include an underperforming sitcom and a campy action flick called Space Dude, his upcoming role in a prestigious movie could prove he’s a star. But Jon isn’t just big muscles and an otherworldly smile.

Join Sarah, Sam, Stella, and Chris on a fun-filled space adventure! Using their imaginations and teamwork, these four friends blast off in their homemade rocket to explore Mars. With laughter, creativity, and a touch of stardust, this story is perfect for little dreamers who love outer space!

As Commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield captivated the world with stunning photos and commentary from space. Now, reading from his first book, Chris takes listeners deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible.

The Space Age began just as the struggle for civil rights forced Americans to confront the long and bitter legacy of slavery, discrimination, and violence against African Americans. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson utilized the space program as an agent for social change, using federal equal employment opportunity laws to open workplaces at NASA and NASA contractors to African Americans while creating thousands of research and technology jobs in the Deep South to ameliorate poverty.

Der neue Science-Fiction-Thriller von Andy Weir, dem Autor des Weltbestsellers "Der Marsianer". Als Ryland Grace erwacht, muss er feststellen, dass er ganz allein ist. Er ist anscheinend der einzige Überlebende einer Raumfahrtmission, Millionen Kilometer von zu Hause entfernt, auf einem Flug ins Tau-Ceti-Sternsystem. Aber was erwartet ihn dort? Und warum sind alle anderen Besatzungsmitglieder tot? Nach und nach dämmert es Grace, dass von seinem Überleben nicht nur die Mission, sondern die Zukunft der gesamten Erdbevölkerung abhängt.

A poetry collection about the beautiful and disorienting period of new motherhood, exploring an experience both otherworldly and very, very human.