Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-04-2003 12:33 PM               

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I just read Tom Stafford's new book "We Have Capture." I thought it was great!

For books written by astronauts, I have to put it on top of my list with Deke Slaytons and Michael Collins.

Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000

posted 01-22-2003 10:51 AM               

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I just finished "We Have Capture" this past weekend and found it a bit disappointing. The book was well written and covered a lot, yet I consistently felt that the coverage fell short on details. Particularly in the post-Apollo discussion, it seemed a matter of saying a problem existed, Gen. Stafford stepped in and then the problem was resolved.

The extensive problems with the Russians in the development of the ISS, as well as the support for NASA astronauts aboard Mir, could have filled an additional 100 pages, I am sure. I would have enjoyed a lot more detail on the types of specific problems and the various approaches recommended for correction and why. I would have welcome a little more detail about Gen. Stafford's four missions and the training for those flights.

A very good book, but had me looking for more.

Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000

Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 03-11-2005 06:26 AM               

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Has anyone read "We Have Capture?" It is a really good book with a few interesting observations.

As usual, the book received little attention in the media.

Editor's note: Threads merged.

Posts: 55
From: Monroe, WA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 03-11-2005 06:55 AM               

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I'm reading it now, and am enjoying every page. I like the way he draws parallel paths between himself, Apollo and the Soviet program, leading up to ASTP.

The guy was known as kind of an SOB (and I'd probably rather hang out with Conrad and Bean than Stafford and Cernan, team-wise), but it puts a real person into perspective.

As a side note, I've noticed that practically everyone was the first to think of the LM lifeboat mode during 13...

Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-11-2005 07:33 AM               

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Please take this in the best way — I'm only trying keep history correct, for which this forum seems to stand: It's hardly a "first" for which one would want to take credit, what with all the heroics that took place during the all the events of Apollo 13.

I haven't read Tom Stafford's book — working closely with him especially during ASTP was quite enough — does he indeed take credit for that particular "first?"

You may be interested to read page 143 of my autobiography, where at 46 minutes into the crisis, I told Kranz that "We'd better think about getting in the LM," as transcribed from my EECOM console intercom audio tapes (CD included with the book). Also, please note that on page 148 I briefly tell of the work done on developing LM lifeboat procedures that began as far back as early as Apollo 10 simulations.

Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002

Posts: 115
From: Winterport, Maine, USA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 03-12-2005 09:56 AM               

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Stafford enjoyed the confidence of the astronaut office, meaning Slayton and Shepard. The book is very good and is well written by the same intelligent and cautious authour of "Deke!" — Mike Cassutt.

One thing I discovered is Stafford's inability to take responsibility for the failure of his marriage. He consistently shoves the blame onto Faye Stafford, almost irrationally.

Stafford likes things to work well for him, and where he is involved in the mission, he is surrounded by others of a similar mind, and things work. My personal opinion is that like others of his profession and time, he neglected those who should have been foremost in his consideration.

Posts: 260
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004

Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 03-14-2005 03:03 PM               

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Stafford was no doubt a great pilot but he was involved in two near-fatal mishaps based on human failure, quite possibly his own: the Apollo 10 episode (where either he or Cernan mistakenly re-set a guidance switch) and ASTP where the Apollo CM filled with toxic gases during splashdown.

What an embarrassing thing it would have been for the U.S. to end that mission with three dead astronauts. As commander, responsibility for both mishaps lay with him.

Did he ever own up to these?

Posts: 55
From: Monroe, WA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 03-17-2005 11:38 AM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Captain Apollo:
...so seems hardly a shock he might claim knowledge in the lifeboat procedures?

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Let me quote briefly from the book, if I may.. pg. 145, "We Have Capture":

Driving over to MSC (after the explosion) I found the flight control team still thinking of the situation as an instrumentation problem or an oxygen leak. I saw the oxygen readings dropping, and said 'We need to get them into the LM right away!' When that didn't seem to sink in, I added: 'This thing is going to shut down. You need to get that lunar module powered up and get its platform aligned!"

Far be it from me, a mere fan, to speculate on whether Stafford actually said "it" first, but it's the attitude I really have a problem with: "When that didn't seem to sink in"?! As if you guys were all sitting there wondering what "all them funny little numbers mean."

Again, you guys are the real geniuses — but it's that Holier Than Thou stuff that rubs me the wrong way. It's also probably part of how they got those flight assignments in the first place...

Posts: 501
From: Pearland, Texas USA
Registered: May 2003

Posts: 55
From: Monroe, WA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 03-17-2005 03:57 PM               

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You're right, Sy, All those guys were heroes, but I just get irked when the guy driving acts like he designed and built the car by himself...

Stafford is awesome, and the book does bring a more human perspective to a guy who seems a little... distant? Besides, I identify more with controller-types anyway...

Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 03-21-2005 10:20 AM               

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I've finished Stafford's book — very good and it adds to our knowledge of space exploration. I was very interested in his post-ASTP work for NASA and the various committees he served on.

This book reads very much like a history book and there is little revelation of the feelings Stafford had during his flights. He writes like a military test pilot. Nothing wrong with that, just the "romanticism" of spaceflight doesn't come across here.