posted 07-03-2021 02:02 PM               

The Apollo 13 mission in 1970 had the world on edge. An oxygen tank exploded three days in, turning the moon landing mission into a heart-stopping rescue mission. In his riveting memoir Never Panic Early, Apollo 13's Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise gives readers a front row seat to the harrowing event and the remarkable experience of being an astronaut.

Haise started his NASA career as a research pilot before serving as backup lunar module pilot for the Apollo 8 and 11 missions, the lunar module pilot for the notorious Apollo 13 mission, the backup spacecraft commander for the Apollo 16 mission, and was meant to command the Apollo 19 mission until cancellation. Never Panic Early shares intense and incredible highlights from one of only 24 astronauts to have flown to the moon.

From commanding the revolutionary space shuttle Enterprise during his Approach and Landing Tests to surviving a nearly fatal accident during an air show, Haise takes readers through the ups, downs, and unexpected turns of his career. The book explorers his most thrilling moments and demonstrates his endurance, strength, and calm in the face of many challenges.

Never Panic Early is a compelling journey through sky and space. It follows Haise through the Mississippi coast where he grew up, his time as a fighter pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps and a tactical fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, his years climbing up the ranks at NASA, and the exceptional experience of looking down at Earth from a rocket. Haise is sincere, reflective, and hopeful in his first-time account of his life. Offering an insider's look at flying for NASA and the "successful failure" that was Apollo 13, the book is an essential read for space buffs.

• Hardcover, 304 pages
  
• Smithsonian Books (April 5, 2022)
  
• ISBN-10: ‎1588347133
  
• ISBN-13: ‎978-1588347138

posted 07-04-2021 11:49 AM               

I have to say I've always thought that he was one of the friendliest, most gracious astronauts I've ever met, who shared several great stories with me of his Irish visits!

posted 04-14-2022 01:40 PM            

I was particularly looking forward to Fred’s perspective on Apollo 13 but found the story surrounding the shuttle drop test program just as interesting: full of the kind of detail you would expect from a test pilot!

I've had the pleasure of Fred's company a number of times over the years and what struck me most about each encounter is Fred's humility. The new book captures this perfectly.

posted 04-18-2022 10:36 AM            

There's something of interest on every page and Fred's concise style points to every word being carefully chosen; and whilst there may not be many new revelations, it is really interesting to get a feel for Fred's thoughts during his life and career. I was particularly moved by the passage dealing with his crash injuries and recovery.

posted 04-18-2022 12:34 PM               

The title repeats itself throughout this excellent account of Fred's life.

This well written piece of work is not just another account of the well known Apollo 13 mission but gives a very broad look at Fred's life and career before and after his well documented years as an astronaut.

Having spent a considerable amount of time in Fred's company I feel the book perfectly captures the very human side of his personality and how he truly sees himself as an ordinary guy that worked hard and maximised the opportunities that life presented.

His great sense of humour is shown several times in the book, but without giving too much away, check out the story of the Apollo 13 crew visit to Fat Boys restaurant at Coco Beach the night before before the command and service module chamber test.

At the other end of the spectrum, read about the harrowing account of Fred's road to recovery after the plane crash and subsequent burns he endured. It felt like the literary equivalent of Niki Lauda's trauma illustrated in the Hollywood movie Rush.

posted 08-31-2022 07:29 PM               

I have heard from some that my published book "Never Panic Early" was too short and lacked detail. Well, ... this website should satisfy the desire of ardent space enthusiasts wanting more! More stories, photos, journals, memos, personal diaries and reports. More of everything is contained in the following sections – providing insights in what was happening during my time as a test pilot, astronaut and a business operations manager to possibly serve as reference material for those who may be researching and writing about space.

posted 09-10-2022 10:12 AM               

Not sure how to do a direct link except to the image by itself: Greeting Prince Charles after completed of ALT Free Flight 5 (FF-5)

posted 05-08-2025 07:53 PM               

...I decided to develop a post mission video show for the roasting.

I kept a spare 35mm cartridge for some of our Lunar surface EVA training exercises at KSC to capture scenes. I learned the challenge of having show "props" available to not waste time. I came to respect the planning for some of the large scenes in Hollywood movies.

Some filming was done after the mission to capture the events that had happened. Examples were John getting tangled up and breaking the flat cable wiring on one of the Lunar surface experiments and Charlie Duke dropping a package for the ALSEP central station. John, not realizing his being on hot mike, uttered comments about passing gas from drinking too much orange juice. The video contained some actual mission footage as well as other sources of documentary film.

At the time of the video production, I utilized the help of a contractor who had the necessary equipment in his home. I did not want to utilize NASA personnel because this was done not long after the news broke of "first day" envelopes sold flown by a prior crew in Germany.

Hopefully viewers will do some homework on the Apollo 16 Mission to both understand and enjoy the video antics.