A stunning memoir from the astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station — a candid account of his remarkable voyage, of the journeys off the planet that preceded it, and of his colorful formative years.
The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few have. Now, he takes us inside a sphere utterly inimical to human life. He describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both existential and banal: the devastating effects on the body; the isolation from everyone he loves and the comforts of Earth; the pressures of constant close cohabitation; the catastrophic risks of depressurization or colliding with space junk, and the still more haunting threat of being unable to help should tragedy strike at home — an agonizing situation Kelly faced when, on another mission, his twin brother's wife, Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while he still had two months in space.
Kelly's humanity, compassion, humor, and passion resonate throughout, as he recalls his rough-and-tumble New Jersey childhood and the youthful inspiration that sparked his astounding career, and as he makes clear his belief that Mars will be the next, ultimately challenging step in American spaceflight. A natural storyteller and modern-day hero, Kelly has a message of hope for the future that will inspire for generations to come. Here, in his personal story, we see the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the boundless wonder of the galaxy.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Knopf (October 17, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1524731595
ISBN-13: 978-1524731595
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-06-2016 02:58 PM
Alfred A. Knopf release
Astronaut Scott Kelly to Write a Book About His Life in Space
Scott Kelly, the pioneering NASA astronaut who recently returned to Earth after 340 days in space, and whose time aboard the International Space Station was celebrated around the world, will write a book about his life, his historic journey, and the future of space exploration. The book, "Endurance: My Year in Space and Our Journey to Mars," to be written with Margaret Lazarus Dean, will be published by Knopf in November 2017. The announcement was made today by Sonny Mehta, Chairman of Alfred A. Knopf. Jonathan Segal, Knopf Vice President and Senior Editor, will edit the book.
Kelly will tell the story of his journey to space and his life aboard the ISS. He will also recount the obstacles he encountered along the way — his early struggles in school (where he was a C-student), his training as a Navy test pilot, and the work required to become an astronaut (and live in space for one year). Kelly also makes a compelling argument for space exploration (public and private), and tells us what it means (and what it will take) to be an explorer in the twenty-first century.
In "Endurance," Kelly's life aboard the ISS is rendered in frank detail, much of it heretofore untold. Kelly captures moments great and small, heart wrenching and harrowing, as well as all the complexities and minutia of his everyday existence in space – the longest mission in history by an American astronaut. He also describes the sensory isolation one experiences after spending an extended period of time in space.
"Natural life doesn't exist here," he writes. "The smell of the seasons, the warmth of the sun, the company of others – things we take for granted but I never will again." He addresses the emotional and physical toll as well. While NASA scientists gathered data about the effects of spaceflight on Kelly's body, similar experiments were being carried out back on Earth on Kelly's near-perfect genetic match, his twin brother, Mark. "During my time in orbit," Kelly writes, "I lost bone mass, my muscles atrophied, and my blood redistributed itself in my body, which strained my heart. Every day, I was exposed to ten times the radiation of a person on Earth, which will increase my risk of a fatal cancer for the rest of my life. Not to mention the psychological stress, which is harder to quantify and perhaps as damaging."
Looming over every space journey, of course, is the potential for catastrophic failure, and in "Endurance," Kelly writes about the things that went wrong as well as things that almost did. "Nothing about spaceflight is routine," Kelly observes. "None of it can be taken for granted. The mistakes that have cost astronauts their lives in the past are terrifyingly small and mundane. Astronauts know this, and we must bring this heightened awareness to everything we do."
Finally, when addressing the questions "Why go to Mars? Why go to space at all?" Mr. Kelly writes, "There are few aspects of everyday life that aren't touched by the technologies developed for space travel... but these innovations aren't the only benefits of spaceflight... The superhuman accomplishment of innovation, perseverance, and cooperation carried out by thousands of Americans working towards one audacious goal speaks for itself."
"Scott has lived a remarkable life, and indeed much of it reads like a work of fiction," said Mehta. "I count myself among the millions who stand in awe of his selfless achievements. But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of his journey is the humanity he depicts. It is essential testimony, as it describes what man is capable of achieving when we reach for greatness and work for it together."
Kelly was represented in the negotiations by Elyse Cheney. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
In addition to "Endurance," Kelly will also publish several books about his time in space for young readers with Random House Children's Books, and a book of photographs taken aboard the ISS.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-07-2016 03:53 AM
Not to mention the psychological stress, which is harder to quantify and perhaps as damaging.
Psychological stress? I'm intrigued.
Mike Dixon Member
Posts: 1397 From: Kew, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2003
posted 04-07-2016 06:07 AM
Not to speak directly to Kelly's comments but that is exactly why I believe Mars is far further distant than we might have imagined, both in terms of the goals and the effects on mind and body.
The challenges, I fear, are simply beyond us.
I hope I'm wrong.
Chariot412 Member
Posts: 156 From: Lockport, NY, 14094 Registered: Jun 2011
posted 04-07-2016 07:29 AM
NASA is starting to look at this with the HERA Project that was posted here last year. More to come.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 08-23-2016 10:28 AM
Coming Fall 2017, according to Scott Kelly's website.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 09-12-2016 08:20 PM
Sony Pictures has picked up the rights to Kelly's book for a film.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The story of the first American to endure nearly a year in space may be headed for the silver screen.
Sony Pictures on Monday (Sept. 12) secured the rights for a feature film based on "Endurance: My Year in Space and Our Journey to Mars," former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's memoirs. Kelly spent 340 days on the International Space Station from March 2015 to March 2016 on his fourth and final, record-setting spaceflight.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-30-2016 01:15 PM
Here's a book promo we don't often see for astronauts' memoirs (to be fair, this appears to be a co-promotion for a citizen science smartphone app and its micro-scholarship program in Abu Dhabi):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-01-2017 12:21 PM
From Scott Kelly on Twitter:
Endurance is to reach the end of a long and challenging mission with the same energy and focus at the start. Thank you all for following my journey in space and on Earth! Here's what I discovered after my #YearInSpace.
The link leads to TIME Magazine's website and an excerpt from "Endurance."
In a preview of his forthcoming memoir, "Endurance," available October 17, Kelly shares how his time in space informed his first year back on Earth.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-16-2017 08:49 PM
Vanity Fair has reprinted the letter that Scott Kelly sent to Tom Wolfe, author of "The Right Stuff," from the International Space Station. The article is accompanied by a new photograph of Kelly with his 2016 Corvette Stingray at Ellington Airport, as taken by Annie Leibovitz.
The day Wolfe received the letter and the picture was the 327th day of Kelly's 340 consecutive days in Earth orbit.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Scott Kelly left a copy of "Endurance" on the International Space Station.
The veteran of the single longest mission by an American astronaut, Kelly recounts his 340 days on board the station in "Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime Discovery," his first book, published by Knopf on Oct. 17. But it wasn't that "Endurance" that Kelly left behind.
18blue78 Member
Posts: 126 From: UK Registered: Aug 2013
posted 10-28-2017 08:31 AM
I received my signed copy from the publisher today and can't wait to get stuck into it. But has anyone else received a copy with uneven pages? Mine looks like the pages were not trimmed after binding giving the book an untidy look.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2017 08:53 AM
As also noted here, that is called a deckle edge and is done purposely as a design choice.
18blue78 Member
Posts: 126 From: UK Registered: Aug 2013
posted 10-28-2017 09:02 AM
Thanks Robert, I hadn't realised it had already been discussed. Glad to know it has been designed like that and not a production oversight.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2017 09:25 AM
Scott Kelly was on CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Friday (Oct. 27):
Captain Scott Kelly, astronaut and record-holder for most consecutive days spent in space by an America, reveals what his first stop was upon landing back on Earth.
The segment was pre-taped earlier in the week; on Friday, Kelly joined Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt to represent Houston on the field at Minute Maid Park prior to the start of Game 3 of the World Series.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-05-2017 12:02 AM
Scott Kelly was on NPR's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" for the segment, "Not My Job." Host Peter Sagal asked Kelly about IHOP...
At a young age, Scott Kelly dreamed of being a test pilot and then an astronaut, rocketing into space. He did it, and apparently liked it so much up there he never wanted to come home — last year, he set the American record for time spent at the International Space Station, returning to earth after nearly one year in orbit.
Being so familiar with the ISS, we wanted to see how familiar he was with IHOP — that is, the restaurant chain International House of Pancakes.
Kite Member
Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 11-28-2017 02:30 PM
Have just finished reading and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did wonder whether it might be a bit monotonous recalling nearly a year on the ISS but it is cleverly broken up in separate chapters with the rest of his life and career interspaced between them. A great and effective idea.
It sits well on the bookshelf next to his twin brother Mark's book "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope." Both highly recommended and are in my opinion amongst the best of the post Apollo era autobiographies.
Tallpaul Member
Posts: 153 From: Rocky Point, NY, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 12-04-2017 11:04 AM
I am thoroughly enjoying this book for the insights it provides about life on the ISS. However, on page 200 there is a statement made that I feel needs some clarification.
On page 200 of Endurance he notes the members of the selection board included John Young about whom he writes “John Young was one of them, the only astronaut to have launched on three different spacecraft: Gemini, Apollo, and the space shuttle.” The statement is true if it is a remark about the astronauts on the selection board, but it is not true when considering all the members of the astronaut corps. What about Wally Schirra who flew on Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo?
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 01-08-2018 11:33 AM
Minor nit: p. 225, the rendering of the space shuttle cockpit, while true, is of Enterprise, not any of the production orbiters. You can see not only the ejection seats (which Columbia had for the first five flights), and the (unlabeled) overhead ejection panels (same as Columbia), but Enterprise alone had aluminum plates (instead of rear payload bay windows) and the airlock isn't labeled (Enterprise had none).
Not sure if the instrumentation rack was Enterprise alone, Enterprise and Columbia, or all orbiters.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-11-2018 12:24 PM
The U.S. paperback edition will be released on Sept. 25, 2018.
Newly adapted for young readers from the New York Times bestseller comes the awe-inspiring memoir from NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a record-breaking year in space.
How does a boy struggling in school become an American hero and a space pioneer?
Daredevil behavior? Check. Whether it is sailing leaky boats in the Atlantic Ocean or joining an ambulance corps to race to the rescue, living on the edge is required behavior for an astronaut.
Sibling rivalry? Check. An identical twin brother who both cheers you on and eggs you on is the perfect motivator.
Inspiration? Check. Finding the right book can unexpectedly change the course of your life by providing a dream and a road map for achieving it.
Courage? Check. Mastering skills that could mean the difference between life and death as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut takes bravery.
Endurance? Check. The grit and can-do spirit that enables you to get up every time you're knocked down and fuels the power to meet each challenge head-on and then ask, "What's next?"
Scott Kelly believes, "If you can dream it, you can do it." This checklist put Scott on a rocket that launched him into space, allowed him to break a record during his inspiring year aboard the International Space Station, and showed human beings the qualities needed to go from Earth to Mars – and beyond.