Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #376287 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 302 pages

Review
"If you think you know the inside story of the U.S. space program, think again. Tom Stafford was there at every turn, and his experiences are a key piece of the puzzle."

Synopsis
Tom Stafford was a leading player in US-Soviet space co-operation during the 1970s. He enjoyed a distinguished career as a test pilot and aerospace engineer, but he is best remembered as the astronaut who in 1975 led the first US mission to dock with a Soviet spacecraft.

Customer Reviews

It Sure Captured My Imagination
Ask any American to name ten pioneering U.S. astronauts and it's quite unlikely they would include the name of Tom Stafford. Yet here is a man who was chosen in NASA's second group of astronauts, who flew two incredible Gemini missions, operated a lunar module to within a few miles of the lunar surface, and became a crew member on the historic ASTP mission, in which Soviet and American spacefarers shook hands in space. And that is just his spaceflight career. There are many layers to General Tom Stafford, and this book explores them all. I will also add that this was a greatly-anticipated book in the space community; co-author Michael Cassutt had earlier hunkered down with Deke Slayton and written a truly superb book about the man, his life and career. Undoubtedly a winner, and an intriguing book about a man whose influence is still being felt at NASA and the upper echelon of spaceflight administration; so highly thought of that he was part of the Columbia accident investigation and review board after the loss of that shuttle in 2003.

This is a seriously good book about a true spaceflight pioneer, and a man who, while he might slip under the radar of most Americans, is an absolute legend of flight beyond our planet. Both authors are to be congratulated on creating this stirring and highly-recommended book.

I liked this book.
Goodness knows how Mike Cassutt managed to make such a great book out of a tough subject. Stafford is notoriously tight-lipped about his personal life, considered a little vain and occasionally arrogant. But here is a really good read about some amazing moments in history. Bravo Cassutt!!!!