Inventing the American Astronaut (Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology)

Who were the men who led America's first voyages into space? Were they soldiers or daredevils? The public sometimes imagined them that way: military men or hot-shot pilots without the capacity for doubt, fear, or worry. Instead, the early astronauts were something else: a new kind of "organization man," calm, calculating, and attuned to the politics and celebrity of the space race. Through archival documents, popular culture, and interviews with the astronauts themselves, the book examines the origins of a new American profession and follows it through the last Moon landing and the creation of the space shuttle-- Source other than Library of Congress Who were the men who led America's first expeditions into space? Soldiers? Daredevils? The public sometimes imagined them that way: heroic military men and hot-shot pilots without the capacity for doubt, fear, or worry. However, early astronauts were hard-working and determined professionals - 'organization men' - who were calm, calculating, and highly attuned to the politics and celebrity of the Space Race. Many would have been at home in corporate America - and until the first rockets carried humans into space, some seemed to be headed there. Instead, they strapped themselves to missiles and blasted skyward, returning with a smile and an inspiring word for the press. From the early days of Project Mercury to the last moon landing, this lively history demystifies the American astronaut while revealing the warring personalities, raw ambition, and complex motives of the men who were the public face of the space program. A fresh and fascinating look at the Space Age that demolishes the myth of the fearless, hot-shot astronaut. Who were the men who led America's first voyages into space? Soldiers? Daredevils? The American public sometimes imagined them that way: dutiful military men or hot-shot pilots without the capacity for doubt, fear, or worry. The astronauts often portrayed themselves in this way, too, but image seldom matched reality. Instead, the early astronauts were something else entirely: a new kind of 'organization man,' calm, calculating, and attuned to the politics and celebrity of the Space Race. Many of the astronauts would have been just as successful in Corporate America, and until the first rockets carried humans into space, some seemed to be heading there. Instead, they strapped themselves to missiles and blasted themselves skyward, returning with a smile and an inspiring word for the press

Who were the men who led America's first voyages into space? Soldiers? Daredevils? The public sometimes imagined them that way: military men or hot-shot pilots without the capacity for doubt, fear, or worry. Instead, the early astronauts were something else: a new kind of 'organization man,' calm, calculating, and attuned to the politics and celebrity of the Space Race. Through archival documents, popular culture, and interviews with the astronauts themselves, the book examines the origins of a new American profession and follows it through the last Moon landing and the creation of the Space Shuttle.

Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Preface 12 Introduction 16 Chapter 1 “Project Astronaut” 24 Chapter 2 “Deke’s Boys” 56 Chapter 3 Scientists in Space 90 Chapter 4 The Man in the Gray Flannel Spacesuit 118 Chapter 5 Public Space 146 Conclusion 174 Notes 182 Selected Bibliography 218 Index 228