Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Publications & Multimedia
  Entering Space: An Astronaut's Odyssey (Joseph Allen)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Entering Space: An Astronaut's Odyssey (Joseph Allen)
AstroAutos
Member

Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 08-23-2013 10:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstroAutos   Click Here to Email AstroAutos     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just bought a copy of "Entering Space: An Astronaut's Odyssey" by Joseph Allen off Amazon - anyone have a copy and care to give your opinions?

I understand 'Little Joe' has a keen interest in photography and the book includes over 200 wonderful photographs (many taken by Dr. Allen himself.)

Lasv3
Member

Posts: 410
From: Bratislava, Slovakia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted 08-23-2013 11:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lasv3   Click Here to Email Lasv3     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It´s a beautiful (mainly) photographic publication divided into chapters covering the launch phase, living and working in space, return from orbit, Earth views and planetary missions. Final chapter describes the 51-A Westar and Palapa satelites rescue mission.

The book is printed on glossy paper, photos are simply great, you will enjoy it.

ea757grrl
Member

Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 08-23-2013 11:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ea757grrl   Click Here to Email ea757grrl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I remember when it came out, and it was one of the first really vivid photographic glimpses inside the active Shuttle program. I couldn't afford it at the time (I was young enough to still be getting an allowance from my parents each month) but I remember looking at it every time we were in a bookstore.

If I recall correctly, in 1987 there was a tie-in calendar with images from the book. My parents gave me the calendar at Christmas and I absolutely loved it. I didn't get the book itself until 2004, but it's a wonderful time capsule from when the Shuttle program was new and the possibilities seemed endless.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 08-23-2013 01:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I too have a copy. It is a great addition to a space library, or any library for that matter. The pictures are wonderful and vivid. The commentary is good, but the pictures are what the book is about. You won't regret buying it.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-23-2013 01:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Lasv3:
Final chapter describes the 51-A Westar and Palapa satelites rescue mission.
I believe that would be the softcover "enlarged" 1987 re-release. The original hardcover edition in 1984 preceded the mission.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-23-2013 01:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a hardback copy dated 1988 with the Westar/Palapa recovery (the book would have seemed premature if it HADN'T included Joe Allen's finest work).

I got my copy almost by accident. It was the "book of the month" in a book club I had joined. I forget to look through the lists and I ended up being sent the "book of the month" as my default choice. A very happy accident. It's a really beautiful book.

KenDavis
Member

Posts: 187
From: W.Sussex United Kingdom
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-23-2013 03:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KenDavis   Click Here to Email KenDavis     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It's a great book - but what I like most is Joe's preface. It is a wonderful piece of writing.

Spoon
Member

Posts: 143
From: Cumbria, UK
Registered: May 2006

posted 08-24-2013 09:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spoon   Click Here to Email Spoon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I pestered my parent's for a copy after seeing Joe Allen talking about his career, and the book's publication, on the children's show Blue Peter back in '84.

My Mam had to specially order a copy from WH Smiths, and I can remember being blown away by the images. I especially loved (and still do) the picture of Challenger rolling to the pad in the fog.

Lovely book, still cherished today.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 08-24-2013 09:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And the book is available used for $3.99 including US shipping at Amazon.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 08-24-2013 11:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Also on Amazon is a softcover signed copy for $19.95 plus the shipping.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 08-24-2013 06:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One of my favorite books back in the early days of Shuttle. That book and the calender is what got me through the Challenger stand down. Staring at those pictures, dreaming of the day we would return to orbit.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-25-2013 03:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ronpur:
That book and the calender is what got me through the Challenger stand down.
Is there any book getting you through the current hiatus?

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 08-25-2013 04:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Is there any book getting you through the current hiatus?
Cold, my friend. Cold.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-25-2013 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think Chris Cassidy and Karen Nyberg (and Mark Hopkins and Rick Mastracchio and Steve Swanson and Greg Wiseman and Butch Wilmore and Terry Virts and Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren, and I could go on...) would suggest that if you are in need something to read, read their on-orbit journals through 2016 and beyond.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 09-05-2013 10:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was inspired by this thread to buy a paperback "expanded" edition for a few bucks from an Amazon vendor.

I still remember unwrapping my original hardcover copy, along with The Space Shuttle Operator's Manual, on Christmas morning '84 or '85. This was when we were at Edwards AFB and I'd seen STS-5, 6, 7, and 9 land. I literally carried that book around with me for weeks.

It's still a beautifully illustrated book, and as a previous poster said, a time capsule of what we though was possible then. I still have my original copy (though in storage with much of my library), but leafing through the one I got over the weekend triggered a lot of fond memories.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement