63880X1 Outward Odyssey: A People's History of Spaceflight Series. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln: 2008. 704 pages. Hardcover with dustjacket. Brand new book. As the United States and the Soviet Union went from exploring space to living in it, a space station was conceived as the logical successor to the Apollo moon program. But between conception and execution there was the vastness of space itself, to say nothing of monumental technological challenges. Homesteading Space, by two of Skylab's own astronauts and a NASA journalist, tells the dramatic story of America's first space station from beginning to fiery end. Homesteading Space is much more than a story of technological and scientific success; it is also an absorbing, sometimes humorous, often inspiring account of the determined, hardworking individuals who shepherded the program through a near-disastrous launch, a heroic rescue, and an exhausting study of Comet Kohoutek, as well as the lab's ultimate descent into the Indian Ocean. Featuring the unpublished in-flight diary of astronaut Alan Bean, the book is replete with the personal recollections and experiences of the Skylab crew and those who worked with them in training, during the mission, and in bringing them safely home. David Hitt is a journalist, writer, and editor for NASA Educational Technology Services. Owen Garriott is a former NASA astronautÑand one of the first six scientist-astronauts selected in 1965. He was stationed on Skylab in 1973 and later flew STS-9, the first international Spacelab mission. Joe Kerwin is a former NASA astronautÑalso one of the first scientist-astronauts selected in 1965. He flew on the first Skylab mission in 1973, was director of Space and Life Sciences at the Johnson Space Center, managed the Extravehicular Systems Project at Lockheed, and eventually became senior vice president of Wyle Laboratories. Alan Bean is the former spacecraft commander of Skylab 3 and became the fourth man to walk on the moon in 1969. Homer Hickam, a former NASA engineer, is the author of Rocket Boys and October Sky. "A worthy account of an important but largely forgotten program. . . . For those who would like to learn more about the achievement, Homesteading Space offers valuable personal recollections from those who were there."ÑRoger Launius, Air & Space "A well-told saga of Skylab from start to fiery fall."ÑCoalition for Space Exploration "The success of our nation's first space station did not come easily. The challenges were met with vision, courage, and competence. Those who personified these traits forcefully and honesty tell their stories here unfiltered by writers or press. The result is both historically significant and a great read."ÑEd Gibson, Skylab III science pilot and author "Published here for the first time, [Alan] Bean's diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave."ÑGilbert Taylor, Booklist "A launch accident nearly doomed Skylab, America's first space station, before its mission could begin. This first-hand story of how American ingenuity, innovation, and gutsy risk-taking turned tragedy to triumph and produced pioneering science in orbit is an inspiration. Homesteading Space captures the never-give-up spirit of our first attempts to explore spaceÑand stay there."ÑTom Jones, veteran shuttle astronaut and author of Sky Walking: An Astronaut's Memoir "When people now spend half a year at a time aboard a continuously-occupied orbital outpost, it's hard to imagine when the first steps in that direction were being made. Homesteading Space provides a powerful and eye-popping narrative of what it took to begin that journey. This book tells its story with candor, context, and humor, and is a worthy addition to any space libraryÑincluding, I hope soon, the one aboard today's International Space Station."ÑJim Oberg, NASA Mission Control veteran, NBC News space consultant $29.95USD
Click here to order or message the dealer