Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Image Credit: Kadri Tinn
Riding Rockets by Astronaut Mike Mullane
Finished Reading November 13, 2012
Rating 9/10
This book is one of the best I've read lately. It's funny, informative and made me rethink whether I'd really want to go into space if they don't build a space elevator soon.
In Riding Rockets there's the whole deal - excitement, fear for life, on-flight humour and an awesome author describing it all.
It starts with Mullane's story of how he grew up and built rockets in his youth, wanting to become an astronaut early on. That is mixed with the space shuttle astronaut selection procedure. I considered the latter together with Mullane's description of his first shuttle launch the most interesting parts of the book.
I think it might not have been a good idea to read it though... might make me want to become an astronaut...ok, there's no "might" here really.
Despite the fact that you can read about the astronauts' fears during shuttle ascent and descent both before and after Challenger's last flight, it's inspiring.
If only the shuttle flights hadn't ended.
Labels: book review, Mike Mullane