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Author Topic:   Shuttle Astronaut Selection (Burgess, Shayler)
cspg
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Posts: 6239
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 03-16-2020 05:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA's First Space Shuttle Astronaut Selection: Redefining the Right Stuff
by David J. Shayler and Colin Burgess
In their latest collaborative effort, the authors bring to life the story behind the selection of the first group of space shuttle astronauts. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASA’s human spaceflight exploration, twice halted through tragedy, the shuttle fleet overall performed magnificently. So too did these 35 men and women, swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing development of America’s space shuttle program. The astronauts themselves formed an extraordinary team composed of men and women, pilots and engineers, military members and scientists, civilians, and various ethnicities, they signaled vast operational and cultural changes in the program. Through this motley crew, the role of "space explorer" expanded far beyond those with the original so-called "Right Stuff" astronauts.

Using extensive research and revealing interviews, the book recounts and analyzes each astronaut's background and biography, the selection process, their training, and their first and subsequent missions. In doing so, the authors shows how this remarkable group came to be seen as a pivotal point in NASA and spaceflight history.

  • Paperback: 350 pages
  • Springer (September 7, 2020)
  • ISBN-10: 3030457419
  • ISBN-13: 978-3030457419

PowerCat
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Posts: 208
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-03-2020 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PowerCat   Click Here to Email PowerCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looking forward to this book. I pre-ordered it.

Kite
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Posts: 912
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 06-03-2020 11:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kite     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A very welcome addition to the series by these two awesome authors. It was a brilliant group and I can't wait to read about them.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2074
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 06-03-2020 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dave and I are currently reading through the page proofs of this book before they go back to the printers. The book is slated for a September release but there's every chance it will be available well before then.

Initially, we had no plans to put this book together. Singly or as a writing team we had told the stories of NASA's first seven astronaut groups for Springer-Praxis and had decided not to go any further down that path. But as the fortieth anniversary of the 1978 TFNG group loomed we decided to tackle the story, and we are so glad we did. The cooperation and support we have received from many of the group has been outstanding, allowing us to not only tell the story factually, but entertainingly as well. They are an amazing, eclectic group of people, and of course for the first time women and minorities were selected. We were also able to contact several of the 120 finalists who missed out in the final selection to get their perspective on the whole process, and what missing out meant to them and their careers.

Altogether it's been a very worthwhile undertaking, and we are also looking forward to seeing its release.

PowerCat
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Posts: 208
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-04-2020 07:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PowerCat   Click Here to Email PowerCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the great update, Colin. I know I am very anxious to read it as our own Kansas astronaut Steve Hawley was one of the 35. I've met him at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, KS several times for lectures and appearances and have heard some interesting stories from him on his five flights.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2074
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 06-04-2020 07:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Steve Hawley was of considerable assistance in our research for this book, supplying a lot of anecdotal information, stories and new photographs, which we really appreciated and added so much to the overall story.

Dave Shayler
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Posts: 145
From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted 07-21-2020 02:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dave Shayler   Click Here to Email Dave Shayler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Our book has now been published by Springer and comes in at 589 pages plus 33 pages of prelims.

As Colin mentioned a lot of assistance was given by several members of the TNFG in the compilation of the draft.

astro-nut
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Posts: 996
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 08-15-2020 11:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for astro-nut   Click Here to Email astro-nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have received my copy in the mail and I cannot wait to read it. It looks really impressive with a lot of details.

I want to say good job by the authors and hopefully we will see a book published on the Astronaut class of 1980, 1984 and 1987? Thank you.

PowerCat
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Posts: 208
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 09-04-2020 01:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PowerCat   Click Here to Email PowerCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received my copy in the mail yesterday and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Great job guys. Well worth the time for sure.

Dave Shayler
Member

Posts: 145
From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted 09-07-2020 02:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dave Shayler   Click Here to Email Dave Shayler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for all your kind comments on the latest Burgess and Shayler venture. Several of the former TFNGs have also been very appreciative of the book which is always encouraging.

The idea of a separate book on the Group 9 selection, then one on Group 10, maybe 11, 12, etc., is perhaps wishful thinking, at least from these authors. Each of these titles takes a while to put together, but thanks for the suggestion.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2074
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-08-2020 04:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree; it's pretty cool when so many of the TFNG have taken the time to make contact and lavish praise on the book. It was a great story to work on, and everyone we contacted was so very cooperative and forthcoming.

As to future astronaut group books, I have to say that both David and I have other book projects on the boil at this time, so even considering further group books is unlikely at this time. We'd obviously love to work together again, but committing to anything beyond the TFNG story really is a long way off as we continue work on our current, separate projects.

sts205cdr
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Posts: 668
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 09-09-2020 12:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for sts205cdr   Click Here to Email sts205cdr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ordered and on the way!

heng44
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Posts: 3476
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 11-20-2020 07:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently finished reading this book about the 1978 astronaut selection and it is absolutely fantastic. Every question one could possibly have on the subject is answered in those 589 impressive pages. Just a very, very complete history. Well done David and Colin!

garymilgrom
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Posts: 2011
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 11-20-2020 07:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Colin can you share any of the feedback and praise you've received from the TFNG? There are no reviews on Amazon yet — it would be great (and a great help to sales I'm sure) to see this before purchasing. Thank you.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2074
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-23-2020 05:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dave was essentially the contact guy for the TFNG astronauts, and when I mentioned this post to him he began assembling all of the comments from the astronauts and will put them together on here when he's done. I've seen some, and they are very complimentary.

Dave Shayler
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Posts: 145
From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted 11-24-2020 01:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dave Shayler   Click Here to Email Dave Shayler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In response to Gary's query, I can pass on these recent comments from some of the TFNGs with regard to the book, and all reproduced with their permission:

Rhea Seddon:

I'm working my way through your amazing book on the TFNGs. The book is a great reference for us old folks who can't remember some of the details of our lives. Thanks so much for pulling it all together! The TFNG book is incredible and amazingly thorough! The detail in the book is awesome! It is my go-to book for any of the details I've forgotten.
Hoot Gibson:
It's here [the book], and IT'S BRILLIANT!!! I have thumbed through it and I can't believe how detailed and complete it is!!! FANTASTIC work!!! I can't wait to read every page! Thank you so much.
Mike Mullane:
"The Shayler/Burgess TFNG book is a wonderful resource for anybody wishing a detailed insight into the space shuttle era and the men and women, the TFNGs, who wrote the early history of that program. While other astronaut books focus solely on the spacecraft and the astronauts who flew them, Shayler/Burgess have gone much deeper and put a spotlight on the many support personnel who, quite literally, put the TFNGs in orbit. As a reader, I had many moments where long, lost memories of the triumph and tragedy of the space shuttle program were brilliantly reawakened at the turn of a page. Loved it! This is a must-have book for every space enthusiast's library.
Steve Hawley:
This is the definitive resource for anyone who wants to understand who the TFNG were, how they worked together, and why this astronaut class was unique in the history of human spaceflight. Many of the anecdotes in the book brought back memories of challenges, opportunities, and a team of men and women who were committed not just to the space program, but to one another... I've gone back to it several times as a reference source.
In addition this from Bob Crippen, reproduced on the back cover with his permission:
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.
Finally a comment from Ed Gibson who wrote the forward and was a member of the TFNG selection panel:
"NASA's First Space Shuttle Astronaut Selection" (Redefining the Right Stuff) is a magnificent piece of work!
Should any other comments be forthcoming I will gladly post them here. I hope this helps answer your query.

ColinBurgess
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Posts: 2074
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-01-2020 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd like to thank Dave for putting together those complimentary messages from several of the TFNG astronauts. Of course both he and I have subsequently received much shorter messages of thanks from others in that group, as well as some of the unsuccessful candidates who didn't make the final cut of 35.

It proved to be a massive undertaking, but we hope that those interested in the history of the space shuttle program who get hold of this book will find — like the astronauts themselves — that it was time and effort well spent.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1335
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 12-07-2020 05:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
David and Colin, my copy arrived yesterday afternoon.

"Definitive" is one of those descriptors which gets thrown around a bit too freely for my taste, but my initial impression is that you've produced a truly magisterial reference work on your subject(s). The TFNGs were "my" astronauts, the first group whose exploits I was old enough to follow as they happened. Thank you for all your work, and congratulations to both of you!

Unfortunately, my copy also came with a production defect that you, as the authors, and others here who have or are considering buying it should be aware of. My copy, via Amazon, included, by my count, 18 blank pages. They appear toward the back — the first "missing" page is 556 — and are not consecutive.

I've started the return/exchange process with Amazon, and should have a replacement copy in hand at some point Wednesday. Hopefully, this was just a one-off and I got unlucky. If there's an issue with the replacement copy, I will follow up here.

Dave Shayler
Member

Posts: 145
From: Halesowen, West Mids, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted 12-09-2020 01:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dave Shayler   Click Here to Email Dave Shayler     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the nice comments, these books are a challenge to pull together but very rewarding.

I was concerned to hear of your "production error" and I will take this up with Springer.

Should any cS'er experience similar problems please let me know asap on aisoffice@virginmedia.com with the subject line "TFNG Issue" and I will investigate forthwith.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1335
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 12-09-2020 02:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dave, I received my replacement copy from Amazon this afternoon; everything seems to be in order. Thanks again!

MCroft04
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Posts: 1686
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 12-14-2020 03:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Finished reading this book and echo all the great comments made by others. It is chunky jam full of great facts and stories. Colin and David succeeded in re-introducing us to this impressive team and reminding us of the impact they had on the shuttle program. Well done!

Kite
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Posts: 912
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 12-24-2020 11:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kite     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have nearly finished this amazing book and it has more than lived up to my expectations. In an earlier post I mentioned about these awesome authors and they never let you down.

The amount of research done and information all put into a very readable style is remarkable. It fits in so well with the previous titles in this series. I fully understand the authors reluctance to carry on themselves with next astronaut groups, due to their very busy schedules and the sheer volume of work involved, but hope they may persuade some talented and knowledgeable authors to eventually carry on with the series.

Thank you and well done.

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