Author(s): David Hitt (Author), Owen K. Garriott (Author), Joe P. Kerwin (Author)
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2008
Language: English
Print length: 548 pages
ISBN-10: 0803224346
ISBN-13: 9780803224346
Book Description
As the United States and the Soviet Union went from exploring space to living in it, a space station was conceived as the logical successor to the Apollo moon program. But between conception and execution there was the vastness of space itself, to say nothing of monumental technological challenges. Homesteading Space, by two of Skylab’s own astronauts and a NASA journalist, tells the dramatic story of America’s first space station from beginning to fiery end.
Homesteading Space is much more than a story of technological and scientific success; it is also an absorbing, sometimes humorous, often inspiring account of the determined, hardworking individuals who shepherded the program through a near-disastrous launch, a heroic rescue, and an exhausting study of Comet Kohoutek, as well as the lab’s ultimate descent into the Indian Ocean. Featuring the unpublished in-flight diary of astronaut Alan Bean, the book is replete with the personal recollections and experiences of the Skylab crew and those who worked with them in training, during the mission, and in bringing them safely home.
Pioneering long-duration spaceflight, the three Skylab missions are chronicled here by an authorial team that includes Skylab astronauts Owen Garriott and Joe Kerwin. Written largely in oral-history style, with extensive quotation from participants in the Skylab program, the work explains the genesis of the space-station concept, the decisions that led to its actual configuration, and the station’s near-death experience when launched in 1973. As space-history readers know, critical pieces of Skylab ripped off during its launch, causing a crisis overcome by repairs the first crew made in one of NASA’s finer moments. Less known was a danger confronted by the second crew that compelled NASA to prepare an improvised rescue mission (which proved unnecessary), and not known at all is the fact that astronaut Alan Bean secretly wrote a journal during his sojourn on Skylab. Published here for the first time, Bean’s diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave. They’ll be delighted to encounter this original work, which is ideal for browsing. –Gilbert Taylor
Review
“A worthy account of an important but largely forgotten program. . . . For those who would like to learn more about the achievement, Homesteading Space offers valuable personal recollections from those who were there.”—Roger Launius, Air & Space
“A well-told saga of Skylab from start to fiery fall.”—
Coalition for Space Exploration Published On: 2008-12-02
“Published here for the first time, [Alan] Bean’s diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave.”—Gilbert Taylor,
Booklist Published On: 2008-11-15
“
Homesteading Space is not just about the scientific knowledge that was obtained in orbit—this is the story of the astronauts who conducted the experiments, who lived in space for weeks or months at a time, and how they coped.”—Andrew J. Liptak, Worlds in a Grain of Sand blog Published On: 2008-12-31
“Savvy consumers of space history have come to expect high quality in the “Outward Odyssey—A People’s History of Spaceflight” series edited by Colin Burgess. This fourth volume definitely does not disappoint.”—Rick W. Sturdevant,
Air Power History
About the Author
David Hitt is a journalist, writer, and editor for NASA Educational Technology Services.
Owen Garriott is a former NASA astronaut—and one of the first six scientist-astronauts selected in 1965. He was stationed on Skylab in 1973 and later flew STS-9, the first international Spacelab mission.
Joe Kerwin is a former NASA astronaut—also one of the first scientist-astronauts selected in 1965. He flew on the first Skylab mission in 1973, was director of Space and Life Sciences at the Johnson Space Center, managed the Extravehicular Systems Project at Lockheed, and eventually became senior vice president of Wyle Laboratories.
Alan Bean is the former spacecraft commander of Skylab 3 and became the fourth man to walk on the moon in 1969.
Homer Hickam, a former NASA engineer, is the author of
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