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Title
NASA's first Space Shuttle astronaut selection : redefining the right stuff / David J. Shayler, Colin Burgess.
ISBN
9783030457426 (electronic book)
3030457427 (electronic book)
3030457419
9783030457419
Imprint
Cham : Springer, 2020.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource
Other Standard Identifiers
10.1007/978-3-030-45
Call Number
TL789.8.U5
Dewey Decimal Classification
629.45/07
Summary
Unofficially they called themselves the TFNG, or the Thirty-Five New Guys. Officially, they were NASAs Group 8 astronauts, selected in January 1978 to train for orbital missions aboard the Space Shuttle. Prior to this time only pilots or scientists trained as pilots had been assigned to fly on Americas spacecraft, but with the advent of the innovative winged spacecraft the door was finally opened to non-pilots, including women and minorities. In all, 15 of those selected were categorised as Pilot Astronauts, while the other 20 would train under the new designation of Mission Specialist. Altogether, the Group 8 astronauts would be launched on a total of 103 space missions; some flying only once, while others flew into orbit as many as five times. Sadly, four of their number would perish in the Challenger tragedy in January 1986. In their latest collaborative effort, the authors bring to life the amazing story behind the selection of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts, examining their varied backgrounds and many accomplishments in a fresh and accessible way through deep research and revealing interviews. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASAs human spaceflight exploration, twice halted through tragedy, the Shuttle fleet performed with magnificence. So too did these 35 men and women, swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing development of Americas Space Shuttle program. This book on the Group 8 Astronauts, the TFNGs, is an excellent summation of the individuals first selected for the new Space Shuttle Program. It provides insight into what it took to first get the Space Shuttle flying. For any space enthusiast it is a must read. Robert L. Crippen PLT on STS-1.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Series
Springer-Praxis books in space exploration.
Available in Other Form
Print version: 9783030457419
Authors Preface
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Dedication
List of Abbreviations and acronyms
Prologue
Chapter 1: Expanding 'The Right Stuff
Chapter 2: Who could fly?
Chapter 3: The new pilot astronauts
Chapter 4: The first Mission Specialists
Chapter 5: All Change in the Astronaut Office
Chapter 6: Ascan pioneers
Chapter 7: Silver Pin astronauts
Chapter 8: Preparing to fly
Chapter 9: NASAs All-Electric Flying Machine
Chapter 10: The TFNG take wings
Chapter 11: "Go at throttle up"
Chapter 12: The final missions
Chapter 13: Flying a desk
Chapter 14: Reflections
Chapter 15: The legacy
Afterword
Appendices
Bibliography
About the authors
Other works by the authors
Index.
