Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York

The astronaut maker, how one mysterious engineer ran human spaceflight for a generation, Michael Cassutt

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 437-439) and index

individual biography

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

The astronaut maker

electronic resource eBook

bibliographydictionaries

Michael Cassutt

how one mysterious engineer ran human spaceflight for a generation

"One of the most elusive and controversial figures in NASA's history, George W. S. Abbey was called "the Dark Lord," "the Godfather," and "UNO" (unidentified NASA official) by those within NASA. From young pilot and wannabe astronaut to engineer, bureaucrat, and finally director of the Johnson Space Center ("mission control"), Abbey's story has never been fully told--until now. This fascinating account takes readers inside NASA to learn the real story of how Abbey rose to power and wielded it out of the spotlight. Informed by countless hours of interviews with Abbey and his family, friends, adversaries, and former colleagues, The Astronaut Maker is the ultimate insider's account of ambition and power politics at NASA"--, Provided by publisher

Part I: "Don't send me there" -- October sky -- The Abbeys -- Annapolis -- Air Force -- Dyna-Soar -- Boeing -- Part II: "Before this decade is out" -- Destination: Moon -- North American Aviation -- Houston and the Manned Spacecraft Center -- Astronaut Abbey -- The Phillips Report -- Flight -- Countdown -- Ashes -- Commitment -- From the Earth to the Moon -- Challenge -- One week in August -- Part III: "The quintessential staffer" -- Mission accomplished -- Apollo 13 -- Stability -- Gravity -- The Space Shuttle -- The Soviets -- Skylab -- The Ace Moving Company -- Apollo-Soyuz -- Part IV: "Ten consecutive miracles followed by an Act of God" -- The right stuff -- The next generation -- Approach and landing -- Thirty-five new guys -- Problems -- Those other astronauts -- STS-1 -- Part V: "Go at throttle up" -- The used spaceship -- Operational flight -- Frequent flying -- 1984 -- The breaking point -- The day the Earth stood still -- Recovery -- Marooned -- Part VI: "A national quasi-emergency" -- PEPCON -- The Space Exploration Initiative -- Synthesis -- Space Council -- Dan Goldin -- Space cowboys -- Redesign -- Hubble rescue -- A space odyssey -- Return to the JSC -- Part VII: "Together to the stars " -- A new direction -- The total equation -- Crises on Mir -- First element -- End game -- The journey continues