The Last of NASA's Original Pilot Astronauts: Expanding the Space Frontier in the Late Sixties (Springer Praxis Books)

Resulting from the authors’ deep research into these two pre-Shuttle astronaut groups, many intriguing and untold stories behind the selection process are revealed in the book. The often extraordinary backgrounds and personal ambitions of these skilled pilots, chosen to continue NASA’s exploration and knowledge of the space frontier, are also examined. In April 1966 NASA selected 19 pilot astronauts whose training was specifically targeted to the Apollo lunar landing missions and the Earth-orbiting Skylab space station. Three years later, following the sudden cancellation of the USAF’s highly classified Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) project, seven military astronauts were also co-opted into NASA’s space program. This book represents the final chapter by the authors in the story of American astronaut selections prior to the era of the Space Shuttle. Through personal interviews and original NASA documentation, readers will also gain a true insight into a remarkable age of space travel as it unfolded in the late 1960s, and the men who flew those historic missions. Front Matter....Pages i-xxviii The selections....Pages 1-31 The nineteen....Pages 32-70 The ‘almost’ astronauts....Pages 71-108 Preparing for Apollo....Pages 109-148 Supporting Apollo....Pages 149-178 Before this decade is out....Pages 179-210 Preparing for MOL....Pages 211-241 NASA’s ‘MOL(mag)nificent’ seven....Pages 242-270 Where blue skies turn black....Pages 271-312 Riding ‘The Stack’....Pages 313-363 After space....Pages 364-388 Back Matter....Pages 389-427