A gripping first-hand account of life in space and the making of an astronaut.
What is it like to fly the space shuttle and work on and in the International Space Station? Veteran NASA astronaut Tom Jones is uniquely qualified to give the details: he flew four shuttle missions and helped to build the station while it was in space. From B-52 pilot during the Cold War, to a PhD in planetary science, to the unbelievable rigors of astronaut training, his career inevitably pointed him toward the space shuttle. Until the Columbia exploded.
Jones's story is the first to candidly explain the professional and personal hardships faced by the astronauts in the aftermath of the tragedy. He certainly has 'The Right Stuff' but also found himself wondering if the risks were worth it for his family. Liftoffs were especially nerve-wracking (his mother, who refuses to even get on a plane, cannot watch) but the missions in space were fascinating. Jones uses his background as a scientist to explain the practical applications of many of the shuttle's scientific missions, and describes what it's like to work with the Russian crew building and living in the space station. Stunning photographs, many taken in space, illustrate his amazing journey. 25 b/w photographs.