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Unofficially they called themselves the TFNG, or the Thirty-Five New Guys. Officially, they were NASA’s Group 8 astronauts, selected in January 1978 to train for orbital missions aboard the Space Shuttle. Prior to this time only pilots or scientists trained as pilots had been assigned to fly on America’s spacecraft, but with the advent of the innovative winged spacecraft the door was finally opened to non-pilots, including women and minorities. In all, 15 of those selected were categorised as Pilot Astronauts, while the other 20 would train under the new designation of Mission Specialist. Altogether, the Group 8 astronauts would be launched on a total of 103 space missions; some flying only once, while others flew into orbit as many as five times. Sadly, four of their number would perish in the Challenger tragedy in January 1986. In their latest collaborative effort, the authors bring to life the amazing story behind the selection of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts, examining their varied backgrounds and many accomplishments in a fresh and accessible way through deep research and revealing interviews. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASA’s human spaceflight exploration, twice halted through tragedy, the Shuttle fleet performed with magnificence. So too did these 35 men and women, swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing development of America’s Space Shuttle program. This book on the Group 8 Astronauts, the TFNGs, is an excellent summation of the individuals first selected for the new Space Shuttle Program. It provides insight into what it took to first get the Space Shuttle flying. For any space enthusiast it is a must read. Robert L. Crippen PLT on STS-1 .

Astronomy. --- Space sciences. --- Aerospace engineering. --- Astronautics. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics). --- Aerospace Technology and Astronautics. --- Space sciences --- Aeronautics --- Astrodynamics --- Space flight --- Space vehicles --- Aeronautical engineering --- Astronautics --- Engineering --- Science and space --- Space research --- Cosmology --- Science --- Astronomy --- Space Shuttle Program (U.S.) --- History. --- United States.

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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. .

Space research --- Astrophysics --- Astronomy --- astrofysica --- astronauten --- ruimtevaart

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The highly successful Hubble Space Telescope was meant to change our view and understanding of the universe. Within weeks of its launch in 1990, however, the space community was shocked to find out that the primary mirror of the telescope was flawed. It was only the skills of scientists and engineers on the ground and the daring talents of astronauts sent to service the telescope in December 1993 that saved the mission. For over two decades NASA had developed the capabilities to service a payload in orbit. This involved numerous studies and the creation of a ground-based infrastructure to support the challenging missions. Unique tools and EVA hardware supported the skills developed in crew training that then enabled astronauts to complete a demanding series of spacewalks. Drawing upon first hand interviews with those closely involved in the project over thirty years ago this story explains the development of the servicing mission concept and the hurdles that had to be overcome to not only launch the telescope but also to mount the first servicing mission – a mission that restored the telescope to full working order three years after its launch, saved the reputation of NASA, and truly opened a new age in understanding of our place in space. This is not just a tale of space age technology, astronauts and astronomy. It is also a story of an audacious scientific vision, and the human ingenuity and determination to overcome all obstacles to make it possible. Hubble Space Telescope: From Concept to Success is a story of an international partnership, dedicated teamwork and a perfect blend of human and robotic space operations that will inspire people of all ages. The subsequent servicing missions that enabled the telescope to continue its scientific program beyond its 25th year in orbit are described in a companion volume Enhancing Hubble’s Vision: Service Missions That Expanded Our View of the Universe.

Aeronautics Engineering & Astronautics --- Mechanical Engineering --- Engineering & Applied Sciences --- Hubble Space Telescope (Spacecraft) --- Space Telescope (Spacecraft) --- Large Space Telescope (Spacecraft) --- HST --- Astronautics. --- Astronomy. --- Astrophysics. --- Aerospace Technology and Astronautics. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics). --- Optics, Lasers, Photonics, Optical Devices. --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Space sciences --- Aeronautics --- Astrodynamics --- Space flight --- Space vehicles --- Aerospace engineering. --- Space sciences. --- Lasers. --- Photonics. --- New optics --- Optics --- Science and space --- Space research --- Cosmology --- Science --- Aeronautical engineering --- Astronautics --- Engineering --- Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation --- Masers, Optical --- Optical masers --- Light amplifiers --- Light sources --- Optoelectronic devices --- Nonlinear optics --- Optical parametric oscillators

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Astronautical laboratories --- Space shuttles --- History. --- Payloads --- Space flight research centers --- Laboratories --- Shuttles, Space --- Reusable space vehicles

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This third book of the Gemini mission series focuses on the flight that simulated in Earth orbit the duration of an eight-day Apollo mission to the Moon. After the proof-of-concept test flights Gemini 1, 2 and 3 (as described in GEMINI FLIES!) and the success of the first American EVA as well as the four-day U.S. mission (GEMINI 4), NASA gained the confidence to gradually increase mission time spent in orbit. This is the first known book to focus solely on the Gemini 5 mission and its challenges with equipment failures and difficult living conditions. The mission was targeted to double the endurance of the previous one, and as such was an integral stepping stone for an even more audacious mission four months later. Attempting the eight- and then fourteen-day durations would be an opportunity for America to gain the lead in space exploration over the Soviets. This mission pioneered the duration of a flight to the Moon and back three years before Apollo 8 made that journey, without a lunar landing, for the first time.

Aerospace engineering. --- Astronautics. --- Outer space—Exploration. --- Aerospace Technology and Astronautics. --- Space Exploration and Astronautics. --- Aeronautical engineering --- Aeronautics --- Astronautics --- Engineering --- Space sciences --- Astrodynamics --- Space flight --- Space vehicles --- Extravehicular activity (Manned space flight) --- Space flight to the moon. --- Project Gemini (U.S.) --- Flight to the moon --- Lunar expeditions --- Lunar flight --- Space walk --- Spacewalk --- Walking in space --- Manned space flight --- Extravehicular activity --- Gemini Project (U.S.) --- Man-in-space Program (U.S.)