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Author
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Topic: Slaying Snakes In the Cockpit (Susan Kilrain)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56861
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-10-2026 04:39 PM
   
Slaying Snakes In the Cockpit: Life Lessons from An Unlikely Astronaut
by Susan Kilrain In "Slaying Snakes in the Cockpit," Susan Kilrain takes readers on a gripping and inspiring journey through the trials that shaped her extraordinary career. From the relentless demands of aerospace engineering and elite flight training to her service as a US Navy test pilot, earning a place among the first women to fly the F-14 Tomcat, she charts a path marked with grit, courage, and unshakable resolve, ultimately leading to the greatest challenge of her life—becoming the youngest person to pilot a space shuttle.Alongside her story of professional milestones, Kilrain writes candidly about the personal victories and setbacks that unfolded behind the scenes, including navigating the delicate balance between family life and one of the world's most demanding careers. Through honest reflection, she explores her confrontation with obstacles such as gender bias and institutional resistance as well as her inner battles with doubt and fear. "Slaying Snakes in the Cockpit" delivers a powerful reminder that with vision, determination, and the courage to keep going, the sky is no limit — it's an invitation. - Hardcover, 200 pages
- BookPress (June 2, 2026)
- ISBN-10: 1960259539
- ISBN-13: 978-1960259530
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3328
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-24-2026 09:15 PM
I think it came out as a hell of a read... 
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MajTom7
Member Posts: 200
From: Cocoa, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted 06-25-2026 08:14 AM
She caught the 3 wire here today.  |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2194
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 06-30-2026 05:42 PM
I implore you to read this book. Amid a plethora of publications by and about space shuttle astronauts, Susan's extraordinary autobiography is – for me – at the very pinnacle. For her, the path to space was strewn with countless obstacles – mostly as a woman wanting to succeed in a succession of male-dominated domains. However, the grit and determination she found within herself to finally realize her dreams is related with complete and unapologetic honesty. I was cheering her on with every page I read. |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1293
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 06-30-2026 07:10 PM
I had the privilege of reading it pre-release, and was struck by how much it read just like a friend telling you about some amazing adventures she had. Capturing Kilrain's journey from engineer to Naval aviator to space shuttle pilot and beyond, the book shares a lot of details I hadn't heard before. But what’s most incredible about "Slaying Snakes in the Cockpit" is how Susan invites the reader to join her on that unique journey, bringing to life unforgettable experiences vividly and colorfully. ------------------
homesteading.space |
Jay Gallentine
Member Posts: 296
From: Shorewood, MN, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 07-08-2026 07:21 PM
I too had the wonderful privilege of reading this book while it was still in draft form. It was incredible, and here's my formal endorsement:To be selected as a NASA space shuttle pilot-astronaut is a high mark of achievement indeed. For that matter, so is being selected as a U.S. Naval fighter pilot. Susan Kilrain has adroitly managed to shoehorn both inside one single lifetime. I appreciated (and applauded) her achievements as I read along, but what I honestly wasn’t prepared for were the additional hurdles she faced for simply being a woman. The narrative here is told by Kilrain herself - it’s as bare and honest a look at one’s own career and choices as any I’ve ever read. Do you want to understand what intelligent and determined people go through in order to succeed, even when the odds lean against them? Then give this book a read. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3328
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-14-2026 11:45 AM
Susan Kilrain on ABC News this morning talking about her new book: |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1483
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-14-2026 04:24 PM
After meeting Susan at Shuttlefest 2026 down in Cocoa Beach last month I read her book. I must say that she was not an unlikely astronaut. Susan was a woman who was very determined to be an astronaut, but it is about her journey through the Navy as well as her decisions after her NASA career that are the most interesting parts of her book. Susan made some very wise decisions in her life. "Slaying Snakes in the Cockpit" was very entertaining which made it a very quick read because it was hard to put down. Five thumbs up! |
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