Ordinary Spaceman by Clayton C. Anderson - There's Nothing Ordinary About This Man Except How He Relates To People

Ordinary Spaceman: From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut by Clayton C. Anderson

Ordinary spaceman? Is there such a person? In my mind, no one selected to fly into the hostile environment of space can be considered ordinary. NASA only selects the best people among their thousands of applicants to fly and represent the agency, as well as the United States.

As far back as I can remember in my life, I have always revered astronauts as heroes. I wanted to be an astronaut and held onto that dream for many years of my young life until I concluded I just didn’t have what it takes to be one of that elite corps of people. So, what is the next best thing to being an astronaut? Perhaps one thing would be to meet astronauts in person. I finally got my wish on July 17, 2019 at the local public library where retired United States Astronaut, Clay Anderson was presenting a talk followed by a book signing. Chrissy (my daughter) and I met Clay at the end of his book signing. I bought three of his books, two for myself, and a copy of his children’s book, A is for Astronaut, to donate to our preschool class where I work.

We talked with Clay for quite some time, and he graciously allowed Chrissy and I to pose with him for a photo. I found him to be an ordinary guy who has done some extraordinary things and a lot of fun to visit with. In his book, Ordinary Astronaut, he promises he will be very candid about his experiences growing up in Nebraska, attending Hastings College, also in Nebraska, and his time in graduate school at Iowa State University. During the time of his schooling, he received the opportunity to intern with NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Upon graduation, he went to work with NASA and thus began his adventure in becoming an astronaut and what it takes to pursue one’s dreams.

Clay’s account of his life with NASA isn’t in chronological order, instead he bounces back and forth in his life’s timeline with each chapter devoted to some aspect of astronaut life. He candidly expresses his experiences, the circumstances surrounding them, and the feelings he had at particular times in his life. One of the most impressive aspects of his writing is how he can make a reader feel the emotions that go along with being a spaceman. Everything is not all fun and games. Astronaut life is hard. It involves constant training, a lot of which seems not only to prepare one for life in space, but for life as a team player. According to Clay, he went through a full gamut of emotions from elation to depths of depression. There is a chapter dealing with his role as Astronaut Escort for a family of the Columbia disaster, which is heart-wrenching. Another chapter hilariously describes how the waste management system during a flight works.

What I got out of Clay’s story is how the perseverance of a person can pay off if one just follows their dream and never loses sight of it. The narrative is well written and I would recommend this book to the curious, but especially to those who might consider a career with NASA. It is also an excellent book to read if one is looking for inspiration and just what one can accomplish when one sets their mind to something.

I know Chrissy and I will remember our brief time talking with Clay Anderson, and I hope I can meet him again sometime in the future. He is an ordinary man, or as some would say, “a regular guy.” However, this ordinary man has led a life filled with extraordinary experiences, as one will see in this book.

Me, Clayton, & Chrissy at the Kearney Public Library

Clayton C Anderson is (so far) the only person from Nebraska to be an astronaut. He flew on Shuttle mission STS-117 to the International Space Station and joined the station’s crew for Expeditions 15 and 16 for and spent 152 days aboard. He returned to earth aboard the STS-120 mission. He also flew on STS-131 as a Mission Specialist. He also logged thirty eight and one-half hours on six spacewalks. He is currently an author, a motivational speaker, and a Professor of Practice at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. 

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

John Glenn - My Memories

John Glenn - My Memories

I have to admit that I don’t know as much about John Glenn as many others, but I do have memories of his orbital flight on February 20, 1962, and I am pretty sure much of who I am today is because of that flight and my own personal circumstances surrounding it. On that date, I was five years old, but not in school yet. Being born in December, I was too far past the cutoff date to start school until the fall of that year. I was pretty much a kid like any other kid, but I had a dad that was fascinated by the space program and he encouraged me to also have that same enthusiasm for it. I had books on space and spaceflight that are ludicrous by what we know now. The books I had told that would have a city on the moon and be freely exploring the solar system with colonies possibly on other worlds. If only.

I know the date and time of the launch only because I looked it up. Friendship 7 launched at 14:47 UTC (Zulu in those days). Where I lived in San Francisco, that would have made it 6:47 am. My dad worked nights at Hills Brothers Coffee Company and got home quite early in the morning. I awoke to find dad sitting on the edge of the bed (I remember this clearly) telling me that it was time to see the “blast off.”

Dad and I sat in front of the television, a black and white Admiral, and watched and listened as Walter Cronkite talked to people about the historic and scientific aspects of the flight and listened in as Jack King made announcements about the countdown and conditions of the vehicle and the pilot. I don’t remember how long it was before the launch happened, but I would imagine as a five year old, I was pretty impatient.

Finally the launch happened and we continued to watch. I remember the shaky camera work as the Atlas got farther away and how they had trouble keeping it centered in the picture. But that’s about all.

Looking back, I can say that it was a beginning for me. I never missed a launch after that, either because dad would get me out of bed (it seemed like all of the launches were in the early morning hours) or later, I would make a point of seeing them all the way through Apollo 17. But Glenn’s orbital flight was the first and a starting point for me to appreciate science eventually to embrace science fiction, space opera in particular, as a way of going to the stars myself.

Mostly, right now as I think about John Glenn, I am missing watching launches in the early morning hours with my dad.

Well, there it is…

Godspeed John Glenn, and thanks for bringing me and my dad closer.

Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey To Unlock The Secrets Of The Universe by Mike Massimino

Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey To Unlock The Secrets Of The Universe by Mike Massimino

Every now and again, I find that I need to get away from the realm of Science Fiction and read something that is more based on fact. That opportunity presented itself recently when I became aware that Astronaut Mike Massimino had penned an autobiography outlining his experiences on becoming and being a member of NASA’s Astronaut Corps.

Previous to reading Spaceman, my exposure to the author came through some of the interviews he conducted for the NASA Channel, some of the interviews of which he was the subject, and through his frequent appearances on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s weekly StarTalk Radio show which is available through iTunes. I have always enjoyed listening to Mike because, along with his giant sense of humor, he is an intelligent and thoughtful individual, but not one to be overstated when he talks. He is very personable as he visits with Dr. Tyson and others and just listening to him, you cannot call him anything other than Mike. So if he happens to read this post, it is my hope that Dr. Mike Massimino will forgive my presumptuousness in referring to him as just Mike. Along with listening to him talk and especially since reading his book, I feel this is a man that I could be friends with; he’s just an ordinary guy who found and made opportunities to do some truly extraordinary things in his life, and he’s still going strong.

Spaceman is the story of Mike’s journey to become a very important part of what has kept the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit and operating for so many years (the Hubble has been in orbit since April, 1990 and has taken numerous breathtaking photos as well as performed above and beyond expectations as astronomers continue to regularly make new discoveries about the universe). Starting out dreaming of becoming an astronaut at a young age, Mike would read everything he could get his hands on and dream of going into space. Among his inspirations there was the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, and the release of the film The Right Stuff  in 1983. From there, Mike embarked on his life’s mission to become an astronaut which took many twists and turns that could have very well ended any possibility of his achieving his goal. However, there is no quit in Mike and as each obstacle presented itself, he would find a way to overcome and persevere, usually with the help of others. In the book, Mike often writes about the importance of teamwork and how being a team player opened doors of opportunity that he would not have been able to open by himself.

Mike’s writing style is conversational and straightforward, and it is obvious that he intended this book for anyone to enjoy. While there are many references to the technical aspects of his work with NASA, the reader is not overwhelmed by those aspects and they are explained adequately so one can understand without being distracted from the author’s story. However, what I found to be outstanding in this book were Mike’s descriptions of his time in space; the sights, the sounds (or lack thereof), and the way that astronauts support each other.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys learning more about what the men and women involved with the space program sacrifice to achieve their goals, and to further demonstrate that an alternate way to approaching seemingly insurmountable problems is to face them and solve them as opposed to quitting. I would especially recommend this book to any young people that may be considering pursuing a career with NASA as a fine, inspirational starting point for becoming prepared for an interesting life if one is willing to do the work it takes to get there.

Well, there it is…

Qaplah!

No Room For Failure: More NASA History...

Failure Is Not An Option: Mission Control From Mercury To Apollo 13 And Beyond by Gene Kranz – 2009

Who received most of the accolades when a successful, or for that matter, an unsuccessful space mission was completed?  Well the answer to that question is obvious; of course it is the astronauts who risked their lives to explore the unknown.  But behind those heroes were thousands of people who often times were among the unsung heroes that helped to launch, fly, and land those spacecraft.  Chief among those were the flight controllers which is the subject of Gene Kranz’s Book Failure Is Not An Option.

Kranz’s book is all about the corps of flight controllers that manned Mission Control for every minute of every day that there was an American spacecraft aloft.  He traces the history of flight control from the very beginnings of the space program through the entire Apollo program.

The early years of space exploration were marked by a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union vying for dominance with the Soviet Union scoring decided victories, leaving the United States playing a game of catch-up.  While the Soviets were sending satellites and people into orbit around the planet, the United States’ rockets were having a difficult time just getting off of the launch pad.  When the U.S. Finally did begin successfully launch payloads, President John F. Kennedy declared to the world that before the end of the 1960’s, the U.S. would successfully send an American to the moon, and return them safely (according to Kranz, the plans prior to Kennedy’s speech were to actually land Americans on the moon in the mid 1970’s).

Kranz traces the history of manned space flight from the perspective of his role as a NASA flight controller.  During his thirty year tenure, he was a firsthand witness to all of the events including projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.  He goes into some detail on all of the flights, and goes into even greater detail on the flights for which he was the chief controller including the first landing on the Moon of Apollo 11, and the near tragedy that was Apollo 13.  He gives an accurate picture of the missions including the problems that were encountered and solved and discusses the reasons for and the solutions to the problems that allowed Americans to take pride in our achievements in space exploration.

Kranz’s narration is sometimes difficult to read because he get quite technical at times, but this book is a must read for those of us who enjoy knowing what went on behind the scenes at NASA.  However, if you are looking for scandal, you will not find it in this book, it is not an expose, but rather a factual account of the history of manned spaceflight from the flight controller’s point of view.

Not only does Kranz revisit the past in Failure, he also speaks to the future of American space exploration by expressing his disappointment (which is felt  by many of us today as American astronauts hitch rides into space aboard Russian rockets) in the present state of affairs: “Entering the twenty-first century, we have an unimaginable array of technology and a generation of young Americans schooled in these technologies.  With our powerful economy, we can do anything we set our mind to do.  Yet we stand with our feet firmly planted on the ground when we could be exploring the universe.”

I think that Failure is a worthwhile read for students of space flight history and those who want to know what goes on behind the scenes at NASA.

In other news…

There is an ongoing debate in the science fiction genre that would seem to search for the answer to a question that has occupied my mind of late; what is science fiction and what is not.  I had the opportunity to once again be a guest on the Scifi Diner Podcast and explore this question with Scott, and Miles (podcast hosts), Raul Ybarra (sci-fi fan, blogger, and mad-scientist), and Keith DeCandido (sci-fi author).  Our conclusion?  Well you are going to have to listen to the show.  I am told that it will be released sometime this coming week and I will add the link to it when it comes available.  We visited for almost two hours on this and could actually have talked longer.

I received a very nice gift from Nick Eftimiades in the mail.  He sent me an autographed copy of Edward of Planet Earth, a work of fiction in the style of Douglas Adams.  Click HERE to read my review and recommendation for Edward.  I should also like to point out that Eftimiades is not only an author, but he is also active in many other areas including Chinese espionage, and the defense of our planet from threats from space.  I, for one, have gained more interest in possible threats due to the recent meteor incidents in Russia and on the east coast of the United States.  Recently, Nick has posted something that may sound like science fiction, but it is truly a threat and needs to be addressed.  Click on the link to read his United States Commission on Planetary Defense.

Blog posts from me have become quite infrequent of late because real life has a tendency to get in the way of leisure pursuits.  Hopefully, as the school year comes to a close, I will be able to write more frequently, but until then…

There it is.

Q’aplaH!

The Dark Side of the Moon Race...

Walter Cronkite

I remember the early days of the space program.  My dad would wake me up in the wee hours of the morning whenever there was a launch on television.  We would watch and listen to Walter Cronkite as he and usually an astronaut would comment on mission details and would hang on every word as Jack King gave updates on the specifics on the condition of the space craft and astronauts aboard.  I remember how I viewed everyone at NASA.  In my mind, they were all a very large group of Boy Scouts who were above scandal, just as NASA, Life Magazine, and the television media would have us believe.  After I watched the movie, The Right Stuff, and read Tom Wolfe's book of the same title, my views grew up and I began to understand that the people at NASA were just as flawed as the rest of humanity.

I have just recently finished reading another book that has further shed some light into the wheelings and dealings that took place in landing men on the moon.  The Man Who Ran The Moon: James E. Webb and the Secret History of Project Apollo by Piers Bizony outlines the activities that took place during the tenure of Jim Webb, NASA Director from 1961 to 1968.

From humble beginnings growing up in North Carolina, Webb rose to become the second director of our nation's space agency.  When President John F. Kennedy declared in a speech that it was a goal of the United States to land a man on the moon and return him safely back to the earth before the end of the decade (1960's), Webb made it his personal mission to make it happen.  So began the dealings that chose where elements of the space agency were to be located, and what contractors would be chosen to build the machines.  It is really about the politics that surrounded the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.  This book tells the story of how congressmen, senators, and presidents jockeyed  to get NASA centers located in their states to aid their positive images for their constituents.  Most of what took place during Webb's time went unnoticed by the general public until the Apollo 1 fire that claimed the lives of astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffe.  After a microscopic investigation of that disaster, many of the back-room dealings were exposed and Webb was compelled to resign his position before the results of his work came to fruition.

Piers Bizony

Webb was was not painted as a shady character in Bizony's book, but rather as a man who was determined to make sure the job got done while facing impossible odds; especially the challenges of getting the program funded.  

Bizony wrote this book in a "just the facts" style, including an index and foot notes annotating his sources of information.  I wouldn't call this a very exciting read, but indeed very interesting for students of NASA history.  If you, like I did, have the "Boy Scout" image of the workings of NASA during the 1960's, and would like to preserve this image, you wouldn't want to read it.  It is a deep look into the behind-the-scenes workings of NASA.

Podcast News...
Recently I have listened to editions of the Scifi Diner Podcast episode #162.  In this episode, Scott and Miles discuss what they are watching and enjoying and include a very nice story about Stan Lee's efforts to help a young man keep his spirits up as he recovers from injury.

I also listened to Wayne Henderson's latest episode of LOSTcasting with Wayne and Dan as they discuss and play listener feedback on the lasting influence of Lost three years after the show was cancelled.  I never got to watch lost while it was on and have only watched the pilot episode, but that was a few years ago.  This episode has piqued my interest and I do intend to give this series a look, when and if I ever have time.

My Current Sci-Fi Acivity...
I have begun reading Peter David's ST: New Frontier series novel, Treason.  I also am continuing to stream Fringe from Amazon and am currently watching Firefly on Blue Ray.  I am getting into watching Continuum on the SyFy Channel and am really grateful that they are actually showing some sci-fi for a change.

Well, there it is...

QaplaH! 
 

It's The End Of The World As We Know It, and I Feel Fine...

For the past few years, I have heard that the world will come to an end on December 21st.  Yes that's this coming December 21st.  Mostly I have heard this on the Coast to Coast AM show.  Well, scientists seem to disagree, and NASA has released a video explaining why.  They had originally planned to release this video on December 22nd, but posted it today...

For tose who cannot watch this video from here, click HERE to go to NASA's YouTube channel to see it.

What do you think?  Are the scientists wrong?  We'll just have to wait and see...

I don't know about you, but my money is on the scientists.