posted 01-29-2006 09:20 AM               

In 1978, the first group of space shuttle astronauts was introduced to the world — twenty-nine men and six women who would carry NASA through the most tumultuous years of the space shuttle program. Among them was USAF Colonel Mike Mullane, who, in his memoir "Riding Rockets," strips the heroic veneer from the astronaut corps and paints them as they are — human.

Mullane's tales of arrested development among military flyboys working with feminist pioneers and post-doc scientists are sometimes bawdy, often comical, and always entertaining. He vividly portrays every aspect of the astronaut experience, from telling a female technician which urine-collection condom size is a fit to hearing "Taps" played over a friend's grave. He is also brutally honest in his criticism of a NASA leadership whose bungling would precipitate the Challenger disaster — killing four members of his group. A hilarious, heartfelt story of life in all its fateful uncertainty, "Riding Rockets" will resonate long after the call of "Wheel stop."

• Hardcover: 384 pages
  
• Publisher: Scribner (January 24, 2006)
  
• ISBN-10: 0743276825
  
• ISBN-13: 978-0743276825

posted 01-29-2006 09:21 AM               

I was surprised by the info that Mike Smith had moved some switches on his panel in an attempt to restore electrical power to Challenger post-breakup. I'm also surprised that Mullane didn't state what we already knew, that Smith was aware of what was going on because of his "Uh-oh" comment as the last voice recorded.

Mullane also makes some interesting points that Abbey favored Navy shuttle commanders over Air Force, citing the selection of Hauck for STS-26R, and the commanders of the first nine of 11 flights.

Without knowing anything of the decision making, I would respectfully beg to differ and offer a possible explanation. While McBride (61E) apparently had enough experience to make the jump from PLT to CDR after one flight, Hauck (61F) had two flights experience. As well, McBride was training for a Spacelab flight, while Hauck was working with Ulysses, a flight somewhat similar to deploying a TDRS.

As for the first nine out of 11 flights, to point out some of the obvious: Young (STS-1) was the most experienced astronaut. Engle (STS-2) had X-15 flight time. Lousma (STS-3) had a previous spaceflight, as did Mattingly (STS-4) and Brand (STS-5).

While there is always some form of interservice rivalry, I think there is an easier explanation for commander selection, and ultimately, of overall crew composition.

posted 01-29-2006 12:56 PM               

The discussion concerning shuttle crew selection is interesting because as the book "Dragonfly" exposed, George Abbey acquired great power in part because he was able to cow the astronaut office into submission. Once they lost that clout, he gained in stature. In addition, it was never clear to anybody what resulted in being selected to fly or not fly and I think that this raises some interesting questions about the overall morale and operations of the astronaut corps. At least the system that Deke Slayton established had a certain amount of predictability.

posted 01-29-2006 01:33 PM               

Oh, and contrary to what Mullane thinks, I doubt Bobko's 41F flight was bumped because Bobko was Air Force. 41F was the next Discovery flight (and when 41E was canceled, the next flight after 41D), so it just made sense just to combine the two flights, even more so since it was the same orbiter.

posted 01-29-2006 04:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Although it will not be known for certain unless Abbey or whoever writes a book...

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posted 01-29-2006 05:18 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Dwayne Day:
In addition, it was never clear to anybody what resulted in being selected to fly or not fly and I think that this raises some interesting questions about the overall morale and operations of the astronaut corps.

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posted 02-06-2006 09:40 AM               

There have been many books written about the space program, most of them factually honest. But what makes three-time shuttle flyer Mike Mullane's autobiography so unique is its emotional honesty. He writes, and writes well, about taboo subjects such as fear and lust with an openness that is revealing and refreshing.

For example, he describes the fear of dying he felt before his space missions, the fears for his family should he die, the doubts the astronauts had about the safety of the shuttle design even before the Challenger tragedy, and the fear of not doing well (the astronaut motto is "don't screw up" and its corollary "don't look bad.")

Astronauts are not supposed to be fearful according to the astronaut myth, yet Mullane admits and expounds on these fears.

Mullane approaches love. lust and sex with an openness that is brutally frank. His description of himself and some of the other male military astronauts as male chauvinist pigs is both funny and repelling. However, Mullane grew up in an earlier era before the feminist revolution. Many military aviators of his day saw women just as sex objects-- thus the Tailhook and other scandals. Some of the humor is truly sophomoric, as Mullane admits when he describes this attitude as "arrested development."

However, one of Mullane's evolutions is to come to respect the competence of most of his fellow TFNG (Class of 1978) female astronauts. He was especially close to Judy Resnik, although he denies rumors of an affair between the two before she died on Challenger. He admires Rhea Seddon, who could dish out the humor with the guys, and steers clear of Sally Ride whom he portrays as an uptight feminist.

Mullane also describes the evolution of his marriage and the patience that his wife Donna showed him through the years-- it's truly a real-life love story.

Mullane is honest about his own short-comings, including not spending enough time with his children.

I have read many books by the astronauts; what makes Riding Rockets so special is the humor, insight, and honesty with which Mullane looks back at his life.

There were several points he made which were new to me. First, he notes the great cultural divide between the military astronauts and civilian Ph.D. astronauts, whom he derisively calls "post-docs." Second, he skewers John Young for how he managed the astronaut office, creating, along with George Abbey, an atmosphere of fear and paranoia. Third, he describes the many close calls the shuttle had before Challenger, and the opinions of the astonauts that the shuttle design was inherently unsafe (no escape system etc.)

His portrayal of the astronaut selection process, training, and preparations for launch is humorous and informative.

His recounting of the countdowns, scrubs, aborts, and launches aboard the shuttle is exciting.

However, his description of the beach house at the Cape where astronauts say good-bye to their families is truly poetic. This book was not ghost-written, and Mike Mullane joins Mike Collins as best writer among the astronauts.

posted 02-06-2006 01:37 PM               

1. Mullane couldn't understand why Young had allowed the control that the Astronaut Office had previously enjoyed (under Slayton/Shepard) for crew assignment to be transferred to powers outside the office (namely, Abbey);
2. Mullane felt that Young's lack of participation in meetings and then resulting anger at other astronauts when the result of said meetings didn't go the way he wanted was a constant frustration; and
3. Mullane encountered firsthand Young's "my way or the highway" approach, where astronauts (such as Mullane) who were tasked to address certain technical decisions contrary to Young's own desires fell into a catch 22: if they didn't do their assigned job they could be risking future flight assignments but at the same time, if they angered Young, they could be met with the same fate. On this topic, Mullane found Young unwilling to listen to the logic of the counter approach, even when it was backed by MOD.

posted 02-06-2006 02:03 PM               

My dim memory is that Young wrote a public memo after Challenger that was widely perceived outside the agency as him breaking ranks with NASA and admitting that they had problems. However, I have read that within NASA, it was perceived as a hypocritical memo, because Young had created some of the very problems that he said existed.

posted 02-12-2006 12:39 AM               

I have to say, this is the best astronaut written account I have read. It is captivating and emotional, vivid in details.

Of all the previous ones I have read, I never closed the book having felt I had been there with the author the entire time.

I acknowledge I am biased towards what I grew up with, the shuttle, and am glad a few more shuttle astronauts are starting to write on their careers. Prior to this my favorite space book had been Linenger's "Off the Planet."

I will probably get Tom Jones's book next.

posted 03-13-2006 12:37 PM               

I really enjoyed Mullane's writing style. The book was great with all the humor and you really can see the pilot ego when he talks about the other astronauts. It really gives you an idea how difficult, stressful and frustrating it could be to have a job as an astronaut. Not to mention the families on the roof waiting for launch terrified that they would see a disaster each time. I know I have heard Story Musgrave comment on how terrifying it was to launch in the shuttle even though he had been up 6 times. Mullane's comments seemed very similar.

His chapter on the Challenger disaster where he describes moment by moment what the 51L crew may have gone through was chilling and frightening. After reading that chapter I just had to close the book and start out the window for the rest of the bus ride.

posted 03-16-2006 09:41 PM            

I grew up watching these guys (and ladies) through the PR filter of NASA. Mike goes to great lengths to show them as real human beings who spent most of their professional lives in an "office" environment that was occasionally interrupted by terrifying (yes they were scared) rides into orbit.

A real insider's look into the "TFNG's" time at NASA, both the good and the bad. Be advised... not a good gift for the younger ones. Definitely some R rated humor here.

posted 03-18-2006 09:05 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
Can anyone explain the book cover?

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posted 03-24-2006 11:04 PM               

Those recollections bring back the day several years ago when I last saw Michael Anderson of STS-107, the smile on his face when he turned around and saw me and his hug.

Exploration has never been cheap and it never will be but to honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice we must continue their journey or risk becoming stagnant.

posted 04-12-2006 12:25 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Kirsten:
Does any of you know which book by whom he is referring to? Brian O'Leary's "The Making of an Ex-Astronaut"?

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posted 04-12-2006 10:33 AM               

Mullane's words were able leap off the page, and course their way through my very being. By remote control Mike was able to literally activate bouts of laughter and then later tears of sadness as I sat and turned page after page of his book. While Mike was strapped in and ready to launch, I found myself clutching the book with white knuckles.

I found his book hovering somewhere between the great writing of "Carrying the Fire," the humorous points of "Schirra's Space" and the candor of "All American Boys." Throw in a little PJ O'Rourke and a touch of Hunter S. Thompson and you have "Riding Rockets." I have not been moved so much by a space related book to date. In simple words, Mike has a gift, and we are really fortunate to have this book of his to read.

posted 06-26-2007 10:41 PM               

First, it gives a real glimpse into flying the shuttle and also a good view of the shuttle astronauts. He gives a great attention to launch operations and his own mortality. I also appreciated his sentimentality.

posted 06-26-2007 10:50 PM            

The only part I disliked was when he said how astronauts don't act as the TFNG's did. I hope astronaut parties aren't "boring" when I'm there.

posted 08-04-2006 07:28 AM               

Superbly written. Laugh out loud funny, incredibly honest, moving, and full of observational detail, it's a great book by any standard.