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Riding Rockets
On February 1, 1978, the first group of space shuttle astronauts, twenty-nine men and six women, were introduced to the world. Among them would be history makers, including the first American woman and the first African American in space. This assembly of astronauts would carry NASA through the most tumultuous years of the space shuttle program. Four would die on Challenger.
USAF Colonel Mike Mullane was a member of this astronaut class, and Riding Rockets is his story -- told with a candor never before seen in an astronaut's memoir. Mullane strips the heroic veneer from the astronaut corps and paints them as they are -- human. His tales of arrested development among military flyboys working with feminist pioneers and post-doc scientists are sometimes bawdy, often hilarious, and always entertaining.
Mullane vividly portrays every aspect of the astronaut experience -- from telling a female technician which urine-collection condom size is a fit; to walking along a Florida beach in a last, tearful goodbye with a spouse; to a wild, intoxicating, terrifying ride into space; to hearing "Taps" played over a friend's grave. Mullane is brutally honest in his criticism of a NASA leadership whose bungling would precipitate the Challenger disaster.
Riding Rockets is a story of life in all its fateful uncertainty, of the impact of a family tragedy on a nine-year-old boy, of the revelatory effect of a machine called Sputnik, and of the life-steering powers of lust, love, and marriage. It is a story of the human experience that will resonate long after the call of "Wheel stop."
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2006
236 people are currently reading
6,580 people want to read
About the author
Mike Mullane
6books23followersRichard Michael Mullane is an engineer and weapon systems officer, a retired USAF officer, and a former NASA astronaut.
During his career, he flew as a mission specialist on STS-41-D, STS-27, and STS-36.
During his career, he flew as a mission specialist on STS-41-D, STS-27, and STS-36.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 483 reviews
December 8, 2014
Between this book and Packing for Mars I know way more about pooping in space than I ever wanted to�..
Mike Mullane’s childhood fascination with space travel gave him the determination to become one of the first groups of astronauts chosen for the space shuttle program, and eventually he made three trips into orbit. Despite eyesight bad enough to prevent him from being a pilot, he was also an Air Force officer who flew combat missions in Vietnam as the weapons system operator. (Like Goose in Top Gun.) He’s traveled the world and has a lot of funny stories about meeting famous people like hobnobbing with Christie Brinkley at a Super Bowl and getting a tour of the White House while cracking jokes with Barbara Bush. While he’s justifiably proud of his achievements, he’s also got a self-deprecating sense of humor that shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
All in all, Mullane has lived a life that’s going to make most of us seem about as interesting as a bowl of cottage cheese by comparison, and he’d probably be entertaining as hell if you had a couple of beers with him. He’s amusing at providing the details about what it’s like to be in space including oversharing a bit on the Viagra effect of zero-G as well as a step-by-step explanation of using the toilet. However, despite having the subtitle of “The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut�, I didn’t find any of the tales that outrageous or different from other books I’ve read from people involved in the space program.
Since the shuttle missions were mainly about delivering freight to space, they just aren’t that exciting unless something went horribly wrong. It doesn’t help that two of Mullane’s three missions involved putting top secret military hardware into orbit so he can’t even talk about the details of those because they're classified. I feel silly saying that a guy writing about riding a giant tank of burning rocket fuel into space seems kind of routine, but when I contrast this with something like Jim Lovell’s Lost Moon, in which Lovell recounts not only his life story but the life-threatening Apollo 13 mission, then this seems kind of tame by comparison despite Mullane’s efforts to convey the wonderous nature of viewing the Earth from orbit. (In fairness, part of the reason I checked this out was because Andy Weir’s The Martian gave me a tremendous hankering to read something from a smart-ass astronaut’s point of view, but it’s really not fair to compare the fictional Mark Watney to the real life of Mullane.)
What I did find intriguing was Mullane’s frankness when discussing the shuttle program, NASA management and his own obsession with getting into space. He doesn’t hedge when saying that after NASA completed the greatest engineering project in history by getting to the moon that it was turned into a freight hauling service with demands to become cost effective by politicians and bureaucrats who treated the shuttle like a commercial jetliner instead of the high risk experimental aircraft it was. He’s highly critical of the NASA management that let a secretive process to select flight crews turn the astronaut’s office into a seething stew of paranoia, fear and frustration. Mullane plainly lays the blame for the Challenger and Columbia disasters on the culture that resulted from these factors. He also confesses that like most of the other astronauts he was so desperate to get into space that he ignored safety concerns, and that he often put his own family second to his career.
Mullane is also brutally honest when recounting the casual sexism that he and the other astronauts engaged in when they were training with America’s first female astronauts. As someone who had gone to the all-male West Point as well as being a military officer, Mullane’s background had been almost exclusively male, and he admits to behaving like a jerk at times. However, he would grow to respect most of the female astronauts and would develop a strong friendship with Judith Resnik who would later be killed on-board Challenger. He was far less friendly with Sally Ride, and one gets the impression that the two of them probably didn’t exchange Christmas cards.
While I enjoyed his story as well as his frankness, in the end I wish that NASA had come up with a grander mission for a guy like Mike Mullane rather than risking his life to put satellites into orbit.
Mike Mullane’s childhood fascination with space travel gave him the determination to become one of the first groups of astronauts chosen for the space shuttle program, and eventually he made three trips into orbit. Despite eyesight bad enough to prevent him from being a pilot, he was also an Air Force officer who flew combat missions in Vietnam as the weapons system operator. (Like Goose in Top Gun.) He’s traveled the world and has a lot of funny stories about meeting famous people like hobnobbing with Christie Brinkley at a Super Bowl and getting a tour of the White House while cracking jokes with Barbara Bush. While he’s justifiably proud of his achievements, he’s also got a self-deprecating sense of humor that shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
All in all, Mullane has lived a life that’s going to make most of us seem about as interesting as a bowl of cottage cheese by comparison, and he’d probably be entertaining as hell if you had a couple of beers with him. He’s amusing at providing the details about what it’s like to be in space including oversharing a bit on the Viagra effect of zero-G as well as a step-by-step explanation of using the toilet. However, despite having the subtitle of “The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut�, I didn’t find any of the tales that outrageous or different from other books I’ve read from people involved in the space program.
Since the shuttle missions were mainly about delivering freight to space, they just aren’t that exciting unless something went horribly wrong. It doesn’t help that two of Mullane’s three missions involved putting top secret military hardware into orbit so he can’t even talk about the details of those because they're classified. I feel silly saying that a guy writing about riding a giant tank of burning rocket fuel into space seems kind of routine, but when I contrast this with something like Jim Lovell’s Lost Moon, in which Lovell recounts not only his life story but the life-threatening Apollo 13 mission, then this seems kind of tame by comparison despite Mullane’s efforts to convey the wonderous nature of viewing the Earth from orbit. (In fairness, part of the reason I checked this out was because Andy Weir’s The Martian gave me a tremendous hankering to read something from a smart-ass astronaut’s point of view, but it’s really not fair to compare the fictional Mark Watney to the real life of Mullane.)
What I did find intriguing was Mullane’s frankness when discussing the shuttle program, NASA management and his own obsession with getting into space. He doesn’t hedge when saying that after NASA completed the greatest engineering project in history by getting to the moon that it was turned into a freight hauling service with demands to become cost effective by politicians and bureaucrats who treated the shuttle like a commercial jetliner instead of the high risk experimental aircraft it was. He’s highly critical of the NASA management that let a secretive process to select flight crews turn the astronaut’s office into a seething stew of paranoia, fear and frustration. Mullane plainly lays the blame for the Challenger and Columbia disasters on the culture that resulted from these factors. He also confesses that like most of the other astronauts he was so desperate to get into space that he ignored safety concerns, and that he often put his own family second to his career.
Mullane is also brutally honest when recounting the casual sexism that he and the other astronauts engaged in when they were training with America’s first female astronauts. As someone who had gone to the all-male West Point as well as being a military officer, Mullane’s background had been almost exclusively male, and he admits to behaving like a jerk at times. However, he would grow to respect most of the female astronauts and would develop a strong friendship with Judith Resnik who would later be killed on-board Challenger. He was far less friendly with Sally Ride, and one gets the impression that the two of them probably didn’t exchange Christmas cards.
While I enjoyed his story as well as his frankness, in the end I wish that NASA had come up with a grander mission for a guy like Mike Mullane rather than risking his life to put satellites into orbit.
January 30, 2016
Mike Mullane is a shuttle astronaut with a penis fixation. Although Riding Rockets is ostensibly about the opening decades of the space shuttle era in NASA, it could be titled the Cosmic Adventures of Mike and his Member. If he doesn't mention his genitalia more times than he uses the acronym "NASA", he at least makes a valiant effort. His is an astronaut memoir of an altogether different kind than say, Jim Lovell's, or Deke Slayton's. This is not a heroic tale of people achieving the impossible:it is instead the story of a man-child and his bros in space. He is juvenile, inappropriate, and obsessed with himself --- but someone who has an interesting story to tell, one that sometimes verges on thoughtful, if you can endure his boorishness.
Riding Rockets gave me fits, being an uncomfortable read: Mullane has all the tact of a dog in heat, and writes almost confrontationally. His emotions are ever on his sleeves, and he dares anyone to challenge him. ("Come at me, bro!") His story is entertaining, and even touching -- there were times when I shook with laughter, and moments wherein I put the book away to put some distance myself and Mullane's emotions, like his despair at his friends' death following the Challenger explosion. Part of the appeal in reading the memoirs of astronauts is that they've seen Earth and humanity in a way the overwhelming majority of us haven't. A photo of Earthrise cannot have the same profound effect on people as actually being there, hanging in the black of space and seeing the Earth -- the stage for every human drama, the sum of our experienced lives -- shrinking below, the entirety of our existence reduced to a finite thing that can be left behind. Mullane can write beautifully, but instead he makes a lot of penis jokes, and those moments of author-reader connection were always broken by wanting to recoil from his personality.
Despite the sometimes beauty of his words, and his insights, Mullane is, candidly, a jackass. The image that comes to mind is that of a drunk teenager invading a bar, perhaps one who has just finished the greatest high school football game of his life and can't wait to impress his audience with it -- but is oblivious to the fact that he is in the company of grown adults who find his posturing and immense self-satisfaction wholly obnoxious. He identifies himself early on, and somewhat proudly, as being in a state of a Arrested Development, along with most of the astronaut corps. Having cheerfully written off his ability to function as a mature, considerate, and thoughtful human beings, he spends most of the book acting instead like a jackass -- ogling women, devoting paragraphs to how rockin' the bods of some of his female colleagues were; endlessly complaining and opining about everyone who thought or acted differently from himself, and of course, chatting merrily away about his penis. Inexplicably, he forgot to mention said organ in the index. It was certainly mentioned enough times to merit inclusion there. Charming he isn't, although his attempts at civilized behavior are almost comic. After dismissing civilian astronauts for being a bunch of pantywaisted granola-eating libtards -- in contradistinction to the solid, right-thinking, manly-man military pilots -- Mullane reflects on their performance throughout the shuttle missions and concludes, "Hey, those guys did have a pair. Not bad!"
I couldn't be impressed by Mullane. Behind the cocky grin and the swagger are thoughtful eyes and a mind that can deliver stirringly poetic tributes and reflections to friends, love, and the beauty of life , but these occasions are few and far between, diamonds in a rough possibly too broad to justify digging in. There aren't many astronaut memoirs about the shuttle program, but I'm planning on reading the other I've found (Sky Walking, Tom Jones) to see if readers interested in that era of NASA's history have to be content with this story of adolescents in space.
Riding Rockets gave me fits, being an uncomfortable read: Mullane has all the tact of a dog in heat, and writes almost confrontationally. His emotions are ever on his sleeves, and he dares anyone to challenge him. ("Come at me, bro!") His story is entertaining, and even touching -- there were times when I shook with laughter, and moments wherein I put the book away to put some distance myself and Mullane's emotions, like his despair at his friends' death following the Challenger explosion. Part of the appeal in reading the memoirs of astronauts is that they've seen Earth and humanity in a way the overwhelming majority of us haven't. A photo of Earthrise cannot have the same profound effect on people as actually being there, hanging in the black of space and seeing the Earth -- the stage for every human drama, the sum of our experienced lives -- shrinking below, the entirety of our existence reduced to a finite thing that can be left behind. Mullane can write beautifully, but instead he makes a lot of penis jokes, and those moments of author-reader connection were always broken by wanting to recoil from his personality.
Despite the sometimes beauty of his words, and his insights, Mullane is, candidly, a jackass. The image that comes to mind is that of a drunk teenager invading a bar, perhaps one who has just finished the greatest high school football game of his life and can't wait to impress his audience with it -- but is oblivious to the fact that he is in the company of grown adults who find his posturing and immense self-satisfaction wholly obnoxious. He identifies himself early on, and somewhat proudly, as being in a state of a Arrested Development, along with most of the astronaut corps. Having cheerfully written off his ability to function as a mature, considerate, and thoughtful human beings, he spends most of the book acting instead like a jackass -- ogling women, devoting paragraphs to how rockin' the bods of some of his female colleagues were; endlessly complaining and opining about everyone who thought or acted differently from himself, and of course, chatting merrily away about his penis. Inexplicably, he forgot to mention said organ in the index. It was certainly mentioned enough times to merit inclusion there. Charming he isn't, although his attempts at civilized behavior are almost comic. After dismissing civilian astronauts for being a bunch of pantywaisted granola-eating libtards -- in contradistinction to the solid, right-thinking, manly-man military pilots -- Mullane reflects on their performance throughout the shuttle missions and concludes, "Hey, those guys did have a pair. Not bad!"
I couldn't be impressed by Mullane. Behind the cocky grin and the swagger are thoughtful eyes and a mind that can deliver stirringly poetic tributes and reflections to friends, love, and the beauty of life , but these occasions are few and far between, diamonds in a rough possibly too broad to justify digging in. There aren't many astronaut memoirs about the shuttle program, but I'm planning on reading the other I've found (Sky Walking, Tom Jones) to see if readers interested in that era of NASA's history have to be content with this story of adolescents in space.
January 14, 2024
10�
Це була дуже потужна історія, про крутого мена Маллейна, який тричі літав у космос.
У книзі дуже багато жартів, але вони дуже хороші, реальна історія життя, яке було не просте, хоча зараз у Майка думаю все пучком. Він з себе добряче стібався протягом періоду життя. Пригадую, як Кідрук лиш розказував про цю книгу що буде видавати, яка вона класна, і вона таки класнюча.
Розділ про доленосне знайомство з дружиною - потужний. Про перший політ на шатлі "Діскавері" неймовірний, я прям сидів разом з командою у шатлі, і вилазив назад, бо старт тричі переносили. Трагедія "Челенджера", де гинуть його друзі, з якими він літав разом у "Діскавері " також написано сильно. Багато цікавого дізнався реального, а не те що ми бачимо у фільмах. Ця їхня постійна мантра "Краще труна, чим ганьба", щоб ти був кращим і сильнішим, і не думав як зхалявити. Як вони молилися у шатлі, щоб якщо загинути, то вище за 80000 км, бо тільки тоді ти астронавт, до того ти ніхто і - краще труна, чим ганьба. Медалі за таємні місії, які можна носити лише у бункері. І ще багато цікавого. Це була крута подорож, яку я розтягував як міг, хоча реально книга читалася швидко.
Цю книгу він написав ще для того: "щоби світ бодай уявляв ту радість і жах, через які проходять астронавти та їхні рідні".
Ну і як сильно він цінує свою дружину яка: вірила, підтримувала, ростила трьох дітей, щоб він зосередився на своїй дитячій мрії. Дочекалась з війни. Прийняла сліпий егоїзм у гонитві за призом. Витримала жах дев'ятьох спроб запуску, шістьох прощань на березі, шістьох походів на дах центру керування запуску (родині можна спостерігати за всім, все відбувається на їхніх очах - шлях у вдівство), одну відмову двигуна ну і три польоти у космос - це фантастичне щось.
Дуже рекомендую!
Це була дуже потужна історія, про крутого мена Маллейна, який тричі літав у космос.
У книзі дуже багато жартів, але вони дуже хороші, реальна історія життя, яке було не просте, хоча зараз у Майка думаю все пучком. Він з себе добряче стібався протягом періоду життя. Пригадую, як Кідрук лиш розказував про цю книгу що буде видавати, яка вона класна, і вона таки класнюча.
Розділ про доленосне знайомство з дружиною - потужний. Про перший політ на шатлі "Діскавері" неймовірний, я прям сидів разом з командою у шатлі, і вилазив назад, бо старт тричі переносили. Трагедія "Челенджера", де гинуть його друзі, з якими він літав разом у "Діскавері " також написано сильно. Багато цікавого дізнався реального, а не те що ми бачимо у фільмах. Ця їхня постійна мантра "Краще труна, чим ганьба", щоб ти був кращим і сильнішим, і не думав як зхалявити. Як вони молилися у шатлі, щоб якщо загинути, то вище за 80000 км, бо тільки тоді ти астронавт, до того ти ніхто і - краще труна, чим ганьба. Медалі за таємні місії, які можна носити лише у бункері. І ще багато цікавого. Це була крута подорож, яку я розтягував як міг, хоча реально книга читалася швидко.
Цю книгу він написав ще для того: "щоби світ бодай уявляв ту радість і жах, через які проходять астронавти та їхні рідні".
Ну і як сильно він цінує свою дружину яка: вірила, підтримувала, ростила трьох дітей, щоб він зосередився на своїй дитячій мрії. Дочекалась з війни. Прийняла сліпий егоїзм у гонитві за призом. Витримала жах дев'ятьох спроб запуску, шістьох прощань на березі, шістьох походів на дах центру керування запуску (родині можна спостерігати за всім, все відбувається на їхніх очах - шлях у вдівство), одну відмову двигуна ну і три польоти у космос - це фантастичне щось.
Дуже рекомендую!
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January 30, 2024книжка в жанрі читво для баті. все ж таки в американців зовсім інша школа нонфіку, текст скомпільований не гірше за будь-яку художку: є інтрига, свої герої та злодії, динамічний сюжет та емоційна синусоїда. але це далеко не ідеальна книжка.
спочатку про плюси, їх багато. нам в деталях пояснять як працює шаттл (той, що корабель), якого біса в ньому немає системи аварійної евакуації й чому після такої успішної Аполло, НАСА урізала фінансування Спейс Шаттлу (того, що космічна програма). доволі відверто розкажуть про сексизм, бюрократизм та “ігри престолів� в НАСА 80-их. буде багато про дух суперництва між учасниками програми та про дивну манеру управління, засновану на культивації страху. неодноразово пройдуться по всіх винуватцях катастрофи Челенджера і зачеплять Колумбію, все це буде.
а тепер мінуси. хоча ні, скоріше trigger warnings. тут є жарти про воєнні злочини, які погано поєднуються з ранковими вибухами російських ракет. є бравий американський ура-патріотизм в дусі «шкода, що ти пропустив Корею, але, сподіваюсь, наздоженеш все у Вʼєтнамі», і НЕПРИСТОЙНО багато “спокутого� сексизму, що використовується як гумористичний девайс. типу, «так я був дуже тупий, дуже-дуже тупий, ви уявляєте, ми навіть робили з жінками ****» (далі дві сторінки в подробицях переповідаються сексистські жартики та підйобчики). автор трошки потєряшка, спочатку витрачає 70 сторінок на пояснення, що армія США виховала з нього сексиста, але жінки в НАСА дуже активно давали відсіч, тож він поступово таки навчився нормально з ними розмовляти, а потім хоба! і взагалі без задньої думки пх��є пасаж про зустріч з акторкою Бо Дерек, яка, цитую, «виділялась навіть серед підтягнутих, обмащених олією данських булочок, що прикрашали пляж. оцінити її на 10 із 10 означало применшити принадність». чи можна було цього всього лайна уникнути? та легко! але автор � бумер (буквально), він же навіть не здогадується, що бовкнув прутню. в другій половині книги подібної дичини стає трохи менше і починається КОНТЕНТ. наприклад, збіса докладний, на декілька сторінок, мануал на тему «як срать у космосі», оце я розумію популярна наука! і той, навіть не намагайтеся удавати, ніби вам не було б цікаво то дізнатися.
в підсумку, це під зав’язк� набита інфою, файно скомпільована, але доволі жахливо написана книжка. на обкладинці, звісно, вказано, що це ОБУРЛИВІ історії космонавта, але чи вистачить у вас наснаги продиратися крізь середньовічний майндсет автора � питання відкрите. якщо ж таки впораєтесь � книга подарує багацько крутих історій.
спочатку про плюси, їх багато. нам в деталях пояснять як працює шаттл (той, що корабель), якого біса в ньому немає системи аварійної евакуації й чому після такої успішної Аполло, НАСА урізала фінансування Спейс Шаттлу (того, що космічна програма). доволі відверто розкажуть про сексизм, бюрократизм та “ігри престолів� в НАСА 80-их. буде багато про дух суперництва між учасниками програми та про дивну манеру управління, засновану на культивації страху. неодноразово пройдуться по всіх винуватцях катастрофи Челенджера і зачеплять Колумбію, все це буде.
а тепер мінуси. хоча ні, скоріше trigger warnings. тут є жарти про воєнні злочини, які погано поєднуються з ранковими вибухами російських ракет. є бравий американський ура-патріотизм в дусі «шкода, що ти пропустив Корею, але, сподіваюсь, наздоженеш все у Вʼєтнамі», і НЕПРИСТОЙНО багато “спокутого� сексизму, що використовується як гумористичний девайс. типу, «так я був дуже тупий, дуже-дуже тупий, ви уявляєте, ми навіть робили з жінками ****» (далі дві сторінки в подробицях переповідаються сексистські жартики та підйобчики). автор трошки потєряшка, спочатку витрачає 70 сторінок на пояснення, що армія США виховала з нього сексиста, але жінки в НАСА дуже активно давали відсіч, тож він поступово таки навчився нормально з ними розмовляти, а потім хоба! і взагалі без задньої думки пх��є пасаж про зустріч з акторкою Бо Дерек, яка, цитую, «виділялась навіть серед підтягнутих, обмащених олією данських булочок, що прикрашали пляж. оцінити її на 10 із 10 означало применшити принадність». чи можна було цього всього лайна уникнути? та легко! але автор � бумер (буквально), він же навіть не здогадується, що бовкнув прутню. в другій половині книги подібної дичини стає трохи менше і починається КОНТЕНТ. наприклад, збіса докладний, на декілька сторінок, мануал на тему «як срать у космосі», оце я розумію популярна наука! і той, навіть не намагайтеся удавати, ніби вам не було б цікаво то дізнатися.
в підсумку, це під зав’язк� набита інфою, файно скомпільована, але доволі жахливо написана книжка. на обкладинці, звісно, вказано, що це ОБУРЛИВІ історії космонавта, але чи вистачить у вас наснаги продиратися крізь середньовічний майндсет автора � питання відкрите. якщо ж таки впораєтесь � книга подарує багацько крутих історій.
December 17, 2014
Like probably half of American kids, I wanted to be an astronaut. So I was hoping this book would get down to the nuts and bolts of what it's like to be on a space shuttle, what astronauts do all day when they're up there, what the training is like, etc. Also, this book came recommended by Mary Roach.
I was very disappointed. First of all, the writing style is that of a talented sixth-grader. The dialogue, such as it is, is stilted and unrealistic. (Proud of that Tarzan nickname, are you, Mike? So proud you need to use it in every sentence Judy says?) The author himself seems to be stuck permanently in sixth grade as well-- the jokes are either about poop or boobs, and self-aggrandizement alters with self-pity so fast it should have given the author whiplash. He's fixated on the idea of himself as a red-blooded, all-American, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps don't-ask-nothin'-from-nobody kind of guy, and then whines throughout the book about how the female astronauts get the most press attention, and other missions get the most press attention, and Sally Ride was mean to him because he's a serial sexual harasser, and on and on and on. In one paragraph, he asserts that the civilian astronauts don't have any life experience, and in the next, he states that he's never worked with a woman before. Because the only kind of life experience that exists is fighting in Vietnam, apparently. And even though this is supposedly the beginning of his transformation in thinking, I have never read anything less self-aware. Later on, he wants some cookies for having realized that the women he works with are competent and do their jobs well. As a self-professed middle-of-the-road guy, you'd think he'd have recognized that a woman, like Sally Ride, with a PhD in physics from Stanford was beyond competent. In fact, this book left me with serious doubts about NASA's HR.
Mike Mullane is one of those people who substitutes "politically correct" for "polite." A large percentage of the book is taken up by his gleeful stories of sexually harassing other astronauts and staff. He takes about a page to go through the women in his astronaut class and give their credentials, along with their marital status and number of kids. (Of course, he never does anything similar with the men.) The only women he likes are the ones who don't object to his sexist jokes, many of which he recounts in detail. Sorry, Mike, if you're looking at a woman's chest while talking to her, that's not un-politically correct. That's both unprofessional and an asshole move.
When he finally gets on the shuttle, there is very little about day-to-day life, except the details of the space toilet (which I thought was pretty interesting). There's almost nothing about the mission itself or what astronaut work looks like (his second two missions were classified, but the first wasn't). There's a lot of wanna-be poetical stuff about watching the earth below the shuttle, which is also written at a sixth-grade level, tops. If you want to know what an astronaut's job is, read a different book.
The only interesting parts in the book were about NASA internal politics and the Challenger explosion. According to the author, there were a lot of internal screw-ups and a nasty office culture that led to the Challenger explosion, and the Columbia disaster several years later. He spends quite some time on the toxic climate in NASA, where astronauts fear that any dissent will get them grounded permanently, and where there is no transparency or accountability for things like flight assignments and engineering failures. The effect this lifestyle has on astronaut families is tragic, and you really do feel bad for the author's wife.
Mostly, though, I only finished this book because I was waiting for my next hold to come in from the library. Don't read it if you like professionalism, women, or the English language.
I was very disappointed. First of all, the writing style is that of a talented sixth-grader. The dialogue, such as it is, is stilted and unrealistic. (Proud of that Tarzan nickname, are you, Mike? So proud you need to use it in every sentence Judy says?) The author himself seems to be stuck permanently in sixth grade as well-- the jokes are either about poop or boobs, and self-aggrandizement alters with self-pity so fast it should have given the author whiplash. He's fixated on the idea of himself as a red-blooded, all-American, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps don't-ask-nothin'-from-nobody kind of guy, and then whines throughout the book about how the female astronauts get the most press attention, and other missions get the most press attention, and Sally Ride was mean to him because he's a serial sexual harasser, and on and on and on. In one paragraph, he asserts that the civilian astronauts don't have any life experience, and in the next, he states that he's never worked with a woman before. Because the only kind of life experience that exists is fighting in Vietnam, apparently. And even though this is supposedly the beginning of his transformation in thinking, I have never read anything less self-aware. Later on, he wants some cookies for having realized that the women he works with are competent and do their jobs well. As a self-professed middle-of-the-road guy, you'd think he'd have recognized that a woman, like Sally Ride, with a PhD in physics from Stanford was beyond competent. In fact, this book left me with serious doubts about NASA's HR.
Mike Mullane is one of those people who substitutes "politically correct" for "polite." A large percentage of the book is taken up by his gleeful stories of sexually harassing other astronauts and staff. He takes about a page to go through the women in his astronaut class and give their credentials, along with their marital status and number of kids. (Of course, he never does anything similar with the men.) The only women he likes are the ones who don't object to his sexist jokes, many of which he recounts in detail. Sorry, Mike, if you're looking at a woman's chest while talking to her, that's not un-politically correct. That's both unprofessional and an asshole move.
When he finally gets on the shuttle, there is very little about day-to-day life, except the details of the space toilet (which I thought was pretty interesting). There's almost nothing about the mission itself or what astronaut work looks like (his second two missions were classified, but the first wasn't). There's a lot of wanna-be poetical stuff about watching the earth below the shuttle, which is also written at a sixth-grade level, tops. If you want to know what an astronaut's job is, read a different book.
The only interesting parts in the book were about NASA internal politics and the Challenger explosion. According to the author, there were a lot of internal screw-ups and a nasty office culture that led to the Challenger explosion, and the Columbia disaster several years later. He spends quite some time on the toxic climate in NASA, where astronauts fear that any dissent will get them grounded permanently, and where there is no transparency or accountability for things like flight assignments and engineering failures. The effect this lifestyle has on astronaut families is tragic, and you really do feel bad for the author's wife.
Mostly, though, I only finished this book because I was waiting for my next hold to come in from the library. Don't read it if you like professionalism, women, or the English language.
November 15, 2017
Трогательный рассказ астронавта НАСА о его нелёгком призвание, о том, как родители и жена всячески поддерживали его, о дружбе и потерях друзей.
May 29, 2011
Excellent read, though I am admittedly biased from growing up around NASA. Mike has a way of bringing back memories - joyful, painful and all points between - of America's Space Shuttle Program and the Astronaut corp of "Thirty-Five New Guys" of 1978, or TFNGs (which included my father, Jon McBride).
The book is raw and honest, taking a look behind the public face of NASA into the lives of the men and women who comprised the program as well as the spouses and families who also sacrificed much to fuel the dream of human spaceflight.
Having been a "child of NASA", growing up across the street from JSC and in 1984 watching my father pilot Challenger, it was great to read this book and relive the memories. The rosy childhood lenses have long been replaced by adult perspective of the realities of the dangers of military aviation and rocketry, but it made the book more fascinating to me in many ways.
From the exhilaration of realizing lifelong dreams to the many observable yet dismissed warning signs that led to tragedies for the Challenger crew and, later, Columbia's, Colonel Mullane respectfully remembers those who gave their lives and those who were left behind to live with the scars. I appreciate him mentioning my own brother's death in military aviation and memorializing numerous other's in the close-knit extended family of NASA's astronauts.
The Outpost - the now demolished tavern that was an old NASA hangout - came back to life for me. I could see George Abbey once again, though I really just knew his fantastic children as sometimes play buddies. I even remember my dad chuckling at some message cork-board in the astronaut office (now I get it!). I could almost smell the jet fuel at Ellington Field as I watched my dad and perhaps Colonel Mullane in the back seat of a T-38 say "goodbye" for a short trip by way of a giant and probably unnecessary afterburner that seemed 100ft long!!
Thanks for this gem Colonel Mullane and thank you for your service; great to see you before the final flight of Discovery a couple months ago. This book helps me understand what that launch must have meant to you personally, and so many others. And also to keep reaching for dreams!!
When the final launch of the Space Shuttle takes place (scheduled for July with Atlantis), it will be bittersweet to be sure. I hope that the United States continues human spaceflight in some significant way.
The book is raw and honest, taking a look behind the public face of NASA into the lives of the men and women who comprised the program as well as the spouses and families who also sacrificed much to fuel the dream of human spaceflight.
Having been a "child of NASA", growing up across the street from JSC and in 1984 watching my father pilot Challenger, it was great to read this book and relive the memories. The rosy childhood lenses have long been replaced by adult perspective of the realities of the dangers of military aviation and rocketry, but it made the book more fascinating to me in many ways.
From the exhilaration of realizing lifelong dreams to the many observable yet dismissed warning signs that led to tragedies for the Challenger crew and, later, Columbia's, Colonel Mullane respectfully remembers those who gave their lives and those who were left behind to live with the scars. I appreciate him mentioning my own brother's death in military aviation and memorializing numerous other's in the close-knit extended family of NASA's astronauts.
The Outpost - the now demolished tavern that was an old NASA hangout - came back to life for me. I could see George Abbey once again, though I really just knew his fantastic children as sometimes play buddies. I even remember my dad chuckling at some message cork-board in the astronaut office (now I get it!). I could almost smell the jet fuel at Ellington Field as I watched my dad and perhaps Colonel Mullane in the back seat of a T-38 say "goodbye" for a short trip by way of a giant and probably unnecessary afterburner that seemed 100ft long!!
Thanks for this gem Colonel Mullane and thank you for your service; great to see you before the final flight of Discovery a couple months ago. This book helps me understand what that launch must have meant to you personally, and so many others. And also to keep reaching for dreams!!
When the final launch of the Space Shuttle takes place (scheduled for July with Atlantis), it will be bittersweet to be sure. I hope that the United States continues human spaceflight in some significant way.
January 10, 2024
«Усі ми ставили своє життя під загрозу тільки тому, що знали: інакше помремо звичайними людьми»
Щиро, весело і цікавезно
Тут про пригоди, мотивацію і страхи астронавтів, перший раз у космосі, неідеальне керівництво, дискримінацію.
Розповіді автора місцями такі душевні, що в якісь моменти у мене виникало відчуття, наче я приїхала в гості до пана Маллейна послухати довгі історії його життя за чашкою гарячого чаю.
Окреме задоволення - якість книжки та перекладу Бородатого Тамарина ❤️
Щиро, весело і цікавезно
Тут про пригоди, мотивацію і страхи астронавтів, перший раз у космосі, неідеальне керівництво, дискримінацію.
Розповіді автора місцями такі душевні, що в якісь моменти у мене виникало відчуття, наче я приїхала в гості до пана Маллейна послухати довгі історії його життя за чашкою гарячого чаю.
Окреме задоволення - якість книжки та перекладу Бородатого Тамарина ❤️
December 23, 2010
You'll read a lot of reviews on this site talking about the sexism in Mullane's book, and how if you can get through that, it's pretty funny. One thing they don't mention thought is:
HE KNOWS IT. In fact, one of the themes of growth in this book is that Mullane goes from being a sexist pig in the 70s to a man who realizes women can do everything he can do as well and better. Now, granted, he still doesn't seem to be able to resist telling us the sexist jokes he used to make (to prove just how sexist he used to be, of course, only that, not because he still secretly thinks they're funny, no, not at all) but the point is, it's MUCH more lighthearted an inoffensive than I was afraid it would be when I read other reviews.
Ok, onto the review proper.
This book follows Mullane (not completely chronologically) from his early childhood, fascinated by Sputnik and building his own rockets, through military life, applying for the astronaut corps, and through his life as an astronaut, 10% of which is "riding rockets" and 90% of which is being jerked around by the bosses. Mullane talks about it all with an easy humor, lots of self-deprecation, and a real understanding for how NASA works (for good and for bad) and how hard it is on the families of astronauts.
Seriously, Mullane's wife deserves a medal. 2 medals. One for being the wife of an astronaut, and one for being the wife of a man who would, at a public party, give her a painting of....well, just read the book!
HE KNOWS IT. In fact, one of the themes of growth in this book is that Mullane goes from being a sexist pig in the 70s to a man who realizes women can do everything he can do as well and better. Now, granted, he still doesn't seem to be able to resist telling us the sexist jokes he used to make (to prove just how sexist he used to be, of course, only that, not because he still secretly thinks they're funny, no, not at all) but the point is, it's MUCH more lighthearted an inoffensive than I was afraid it would be when I read other reviews.
Ok, onto the review proper.
This book follows Mullane (not completely chronologically) from his early childhood, fascinated by Sputnik and building his own rockets, through military life, applying for the astronaut corps, and through his life as an astronaut, 10% of which is "riding rockets" and 90% of which is being jerked around by the bosses. Mullane talks about it all with an easy humor, lots of self-deprecation, and a real understanding for how NASA works (for good and for bad) and how hard it is on the families of astronauts.
Seriously, Mullane's wife deserves a medal. 2 medals. One for being the wife of an astronaut, and one for being the wife of a man who would, at a public party, give her a painting of....well, just read the book!
February 16, 2021
Had been very lucky with non fiction about space, loving everyone of them so I guessed I would love this as well but it wasn't really my thing. Found the humor and writing be juvenile and not at all funny. Wasn't as into the space fact in this one, but some of it was quite interesting but not liking the voice of the book took away from my enjoyment.
March 12, 2018
A fair characterization of this book is that it tells two stories. The first story is one of the astronaut program as it was transformed after Apollo and operated during the initial years of the space shuttle program. The second is the personal story of the book’s author, Mike Mullane, and his complete lack of consideration for the mere mortal humans that come into contact with His Grace, the One True Astronaut.
The first story, as does the second, spans the entire book. Mullane gives a recount of his career from his selection as a shuttle astronaut, progresses through his training, and continues on through three flights on the space shuttle. The story is insightful and indeed contains the very information and insights I was hoping for in any book about the space program.
Mullane knows his stuff. When he’s focused on his job he cannot be impeached. He had me completely captivated. There were minor details and major facts that had never been revealed to me previously about the shuttle program. His reports of the Challenger and Columbia disasters were complete and insightful. The first story about the shuttle program is well worth the read provided you can keep your lunch down during the various ascensions of Mike Mullane’s personal life-views, i.e. the second story.
Within the periodic appearances of the second story, Mullane has a superiority complex of the worst kind. Women that come into his world are initially judged as incompetent and incapable. They are assigned a mental rating with imaginary numeric cards ranging from 1 to 10 based solely on their looks. If a woman is a 9 or 10 (and is tolerant of lecherous behavior), Mullane might actually become enlightened by her abilities as time goes by, but only because he wants to be around her. His physical attraction towards women provides the time required to form an opinion about their competency.
Along these same lines, the astronauts who are academic scientists are also made to suffer his holier-than-thou perceptions of them. What right do scientists have to fly into space when military fighter jocks like Mullane are virtually ordained to do so? While in Mullane’s presence, the astronaut-scientists have no purpose other than to make Mullane feel good about himself by suffering the brunt of Mullane’s stupid juvenile jokes. However, with the passage of time and forced exposure, Mullane sees fit elevate some of the astronaut-scientists to a level of measured respect.
And that’s why didn’t like Mullane. In his eyes, everybody who is not like Mullane is someone who is less than himself, not different, but less. Redemption to achieve some value of consideration by Mullane is just that: an elevation by Mullane to a level that resides somewhere below his own god-like self perception. Heaven forbid that a woman or a scientist should present themselves as equals to Mullane based upon the merits of being selected as an astronaut. What Mullane forgets is that his credibility for this book stems from those very same qualifications.
I gave this book a punitive two stars where three could actually be due. Mullane is not the right voice for a topic of such universal and human importance as space exploration. There must be other books by other astronauts that can provide the same information provided in Riding Rockets but do not foster the caustic feelings of alienation that are fanned by Astronaut Richard Michael Mullane.
The first story, as does the second, spans the entire book. Mullane gives a recount of his career from his selection as a shuttle astronaut, progresses through his training, and continues on through three flights on the space shuttle. The story is insightful and indeed contains the very information and insights I was hoping for in any book about the space program.
Mullane knows his stuff. When he’s focused on his job he cannot be impeached. He had me completely captivated. There were minor details and major facts that had never been revealed to me previously about the shuttle program. His reports of the Challenger and Columbia disasters were complete and insightful. The first story about the shuttle program is well worth the read provided you can keep your lunch down during the various ascensions of Mike Mullane’s personal life-views, i.e. the second story.
Within the periodic appearances of the second story, Mullane has a superiority complex of the worst kind. Women that come into his world are initially judged as incompetent and incapable. They are assigned a mental rating with imaginary numeric cards ranging from 1 to 10 based solely on their looks. If a woman is a 9 or 10 (and is tolerant of lecherous behavior), Mullane might actually become enlightened by her abilities as time goes by, but only because he wants to be around her. His physical attraction towards women provides the time required to form an opinion about their competency.
Along these same lines, the astronauts who are academic scientists are also made to suffer his holier-than-thou perceptions of them. What right do scientists have to fly into space when military fighter jocks like Mullane are virtually ordained to do so? While in Mullane’s presence, the astronaut-scientists have no purpose other than to make Mullane feel good about himself by suffering the brunt of Mullane’s stupid juvenile jokes. However, with the passage of time and forced exposure, Mullane sees fit elevate some of the astronaut-scientists to a level of measured respect.
And that’s why didn’t like Mullane. In his eyes, everybody who is not like Mullane is someone who is less than himself, not different, but less. Redemption to achieve some value of consideration by Mullane is just that: an elevation by Mullane to a level that resides somewhere below his own god-like self perception. Heaven forbid that a woman or a scientist should present themselves as equals to Mullane based upon the merits of being selected as an astronaut. What Mullane forgets is that his credibility for this book stems from those very same qualifications.
I gave this book a punitive two stars where three could actually be due. Mullane is not the right voice for a topic of such universal and human importance as space exploration. There must be other books by other astronauts that can provide the same information provided in Riding Rockets but do not foster the caustic feelings of alienation that are fanned by Astronaut Richard Michael Mullane.
October 3, 2013
This book was everything I had hoped for. It gave me insight into the real life of an astronaut, it humanized the incredible feats it took to get into space, and it made me even more enthusiastic, if that's even possible, about the human species exploring the vasty nothingness of space.
I've read some other reviews that mention that Mullane is sexist, and talks about his penis a great deal. While those assessments of the man are actually correct, the reviewers missed the point. Mullane came from an era where men, especially fighter pilots, were sexist misogynistic pigs. No doubt about that. But the point of him recounting his idiot tendencies, which he admits to and apologizes for, is that he actually changes his mind - he grows and changes, as all people should.
The talk about his penis does one really important thing: takes the luster off space flight. He's not talking about his bits to impress anyone. He's talking about them because the reality of space flight is that astronauts wear diapers, or urine-catching condoms, and it's NOT sexy. While the rewards for getting into space are amazing, as he recounts with loving detail, the hurdles to get there are also well detailed, spelling out the reality that space travel is hard work. That he chose to approach it with a 5th grader's sensibility and make jokes was actually fine with me.
His recounting of the Challenger disaster really got to me. Probably because I had the same thoughts about the accident that he did - that the crew was killed instantly and didn't suffer. ... The reports from the investigation show otherwise. They were awake and alive for the two and half minute fall to earth, with no way out.
With his insights, I understand better why the shuttle program was eventually shut down. I hope for our return to space as explorers, but with slightly more opportunity for survival.
You would think with all my praise, I would give it 5 stars. But there are some down sides to this book - the use of acronyms being one of them. I get that in the astronaut service they use acronyms with no difficulty, but being a civilian, it was often bewildering when he threw 6 - 10 acronyms out and just kept using them assuming I remembered them all through the course of the book. Not so, really.
And at times, the writing suffers. He is eloquent and moving in many parts of the book. And other times the writing is tedious and boring, with poor word choices and phrases that jolt you out of the narrative.
That being said, really worth the read. I really quite enjoyed it.
I've read some other reviews that mention that Mullane is sexist, and talks about his penis a great deal. While those assessments of the man are actually correct, the reviewers missed the point. Mullane came from an era where men, especially fighter pilots, were sexist misogynistic pigs. No doubt about that. But the point of him recounting his idiot tendencies, which he admits to and apologizes for, is that he actually changes his mind - he grows and changes, as all people should.
The talk about his penis does one really important thing: takes the luster off space flight. He's not talking about his bits to impress anyone. He's talking about them because the reality of space flight is that astronauts wear diapers, or urine-catching condoms, and it's NOT sexy. While the rewards for getting into space are amazing, as he recounts with loving detail, the hurdles to get there are also well detailed, spelling out the reality that space travel is hard work. That he chose to approach it with a 5th grader's sensibility and make jokes was actually fine with me.
His recounting of the Challenger disaster really got to me. Probably because I had the same thoughts about the accident that he did - that the crew was killed instantly and didn't suffer. ... The reports from the investigation show otherwise. They were awake and alive for the two and half minute fall to earth, with no way out.
With his insights, I understand better why the shuttle program was eventually shut down. I hope for our return to space as explorers, but with slightly more opportunity for survival.
You would think with all my praise, I would give it 5 stars. But there are some down sides to this book - the use of acronyms being one of them. I get that in the astronaut service they use acronyms with no difficulty, but being a civilian, it was often bewildering when he threw 6 - 10 acronyms out and just kept using them assuming I remembered them all through the course of the book. Not so, really.
And at times, the writing suffers. He is eloquent and moving in many parts of the book. And other times the writing is tedious and boring, with poor word choices and phrases that jolt you out of the narrative.
That being said, really worth the read. I really quite enjoyed it.
December 30, 2024
Це саме та книга, яку не варто було перекладати і приносити в український простір.
Абсолютно недолугі сексистські і расистські жарти. Здавалося б, у автора було безліч часу на переосмислення своїх вчинків і слів та поведінки своїх колег, але складається враження, що він отримує задоволення, переповідаючи безглузді анекдоти і використовуючи ніби жартома фрази про «горіння у феміністичному пеклі».
Фемінізм - це не про те, що чоловіки і жінки однакові фізіологічно. Шкода, що автор цього не зрозумів навіть в старшому віці.
«миленька лялечка», «зграбна кобилка», «ціпонька», «попурі з кицьок» � та інші слова, які автор використовує для іменування науковиць, працівниць лабораторії чи просто рандомних жінок.
«Одна із заплилих жиром від дітонародження дружин…� - ви все ще хочете читати це?
А історія-жарт про те, чим він займався у Вʼєтнамі, в українських реаліях в 2024 сприймається просто огидно.
Абсолютно недолугі сексистські і расистські жарти. Здавалося б, у автора було безліч часу на переосмислення своїх вчинків і слів та поведінки своїх колег, але складається враження, що він отримує задоволення, переповідаючи безглузді анекдоти і використовуючи ніби жартома фрази про «горіння у феміністичному пеклі».
Фемінізм - це не про те, що чоловіки і жінки однакові фізіологічно. Шкода, що автор цього не зрозумів навіть в старшому віці.
«миленька лялечка», «зграбна кобилка», «ціпонька», «попурі з кицьок» � та інші слова, які автор використовує для іменування науковиць, працівниць лабораторії чи просто рандомних жінок.
«Одна із заплилих жиром від дітонародження дружин…� - ви все ще хочете читати це?
А історія-жарт про те, чим він займався у Вʼєтнамі, в українських реаліях в 2024 сприймається просто огидно.
August 9, 2010
This is a great book. Here's why:
1. Some of his childhood stories are utterly hysterical. I was actually lying in bed reading, laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face.
2. There's a lot of crazy, odd, humiliating stuff about being an astronaut and he shares ALL of it. The man has never heard of TMI. Some of the details, most of the humor, and a little of the language is pretty crude, so consider yourself forewarned. It's part of Mullane's "charm", such as it is.
3. His friendship with Judy Resnik, who died on Challenger (along with 3 of his other astronaut classmates/friends) is funny, moving, and sad.
4. His analysis of NASA culture, especially the astronaut office and the 'experimental' nature of the Space Shuttle is disturbing and occasionally shocking.
5. His countdowns to his first launch on the Shuttle had me literally holding my breath. For PAGES.
6. His talk of the "normalization of deviance" is soooo important and interesting. I'd never really thought about things that way and it is easy to see how disasters like Challenger and Columbia happen when you consider how easy it is to normalize deviance when it occurs repeatedly with no associated tragedies.
7. His descriptions of looking at the earth from space are among the best I've read and his practice of sticking his bed sack to a wall so his face was near a window and then staying up to watch the earth roll beneath him while he was supposed to be sleeping are great. A quote: "To say the view was overwhelmingly beautiful would be an insult to God."
8. He's was a sexist pig. He knows he was a pig. He's a little proud he was a pig. He was a real, real pig. But he's funny and easy to forgive for being a pig. He made a lot of progress over the years and came to respect most of the women he worked with (never really came to like Sally Ride, though!) and to understand something about the realities of discrimination. But if sexist banter and jokes bother you, don't read this book. LOL.
9. It's just a great, laugh-out-loud funny, heartbreaking book. :) And educational along the way.
1. Some of his childhood stories are utterly hysterical. I was actually lying in bed reading, laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face.
2. There's a lot of crazy, odd, humiliating stuff about being an astronaut and he shares ALL of it. The man has never heard of TMI. Some of the details, most of the humor, and a little of the language is pretty crude, so consider yourself forewarned. It's part of Mullane's "charm", such as it is.
3. His friendship with Judy Resnik, who died on Challenger (along with 3 of his other astronaut classmates/friends) is funny, moving, and sad.
4. His analysis of NASA culture, especially the astronaut office and the 'experimental' nature of the Space Shuttle is disturbing and occasionally shocking.
5. His countdowns to his first launch on the Shuttle had me literally holding my breath. For PAGES.
6. His talk of the "normalization of deviance" is soooo important and interesting. I'd never really thought about things that way and it is easy to see how disasters like Challenger and Columbia happen when you consider how easy it is to normalize deviance when it occurs repeatedly with no associated tragedies.
7. His descriptions of looking at the earth from space are among the best I've read and his practice of sticking his bed sack to a wall so his face was near a window and then staying up to watch the earth roll beneath him while he was supposed to be sleeping are great. A quote: "To say the view was overwhelmingly beautiful would be an insult to God."
8. He's was a sexist pig. He knows he was a pig. He's a little proud he was a pig. He was a real, real pig. But he's funny and easy to forgive for being a pig. He made a lot of progress over the years and came to respect most of the women he worked with (never really came to like Sally Ride, though!) and to understand something about the realities of discrimination. But if sexist banter and jokes bother you, don't read this book. LOL.
9. It's just a great, laugh-out-loud funny, heartbreaking book. :) And educational along the way.
January 8, 2024
"Верхи на шатлі" обернулася для мене двома несподіванками. Я чекав чогось дуже подібного на "Endurance" Скота Келлі. Але атмосфери шибайголовості і жартів нижче пояса "на шатлі" ну дуже багато. В якись момент здалося, що нічого принципово іншого вже й не буде.
Але тут чекала друга несподіванка. Навколо і після Челленджера Майк дає прекрасний аналіз причин катастрофи. Критика системних проблем НАСА глибока і правильна. На жаль маємо ті самі проблеми зараз, коли такі помилки можуть коштувати виживання країни.
Всі відсилання до "планети ЗР" теж виявляються не для розваги. Вони підсвічують зміни в ставленні Маллейна до інших, зокрема до цивільних. На щастя до кінця автор не міняється і щедро роздає стусанів тим, хто заслужив. Навіть якщо вони топтали пил Місяця.
"Верхи на Шатлі" ідеально збиває ореол небожительства з астронавтів і, особливо, НАСА. І не забуває нагадувати, що всі ці неймовірні досягнення здобули живі справжні люди.
Але тут чекала друга несподіванка. Навколо і після Челленджера Майк дає прекрасний аналіз причин катастрофи. Критика системних проблем НАСА глибока і правильна. На жаль маємо ті самі проблеми зараз, коли такі помилки можуть коштувати виживання країни.
Всі відсилання до "планети ЗР" теж виявляються не для розваги. Вони підсвічують зміни в ставленні Маллейна до інших, зокрема до цивільних. На щастя до кінця автор не міняється і щедро роздає стусанів тим, хто заслужив. Навіть якщо вони топтали пил Місяця.
"Верхи на Шатлі" ідеально збиває ореол небожительства з астронавтів і, особливо, НАСА. І не забуває нагадувати, що всі ці неймовірні досягнення здобули живі справжні люди.
September 12, 2021
This could be a handbook for men to understand sexism and sexual harassment. Pretty much everything this man finds funny is revolting, and even when he realises it, he still can’t help relating the stories again and believing they are funny. There is an excellent section in the middle about leadership and safety issues at NASA but you have to get through a couple of hundred pages of odious commentary on every woman he meets to reach it.
May 20, 2024
Вперше читаю книну про серйозні речі з таким гумором. Автор - неймовірний, адреналін в очікуванні свого першого польоту на орбіту - зашкалював. Донна - не менш смілива жінка, щоб прийняти це все. Цікаво і легко написано
June 16, 2024
First of all I got this book delivered to the Noe Valley library from the Livermore Public Library via Link+ because it is not available in SFPL, so I feel like a real library power user.
Mike Mullane’s career as an astronaut is not as exciting as going to the moon, but he makes up for it with a lot of jokes and some brutal honesty (basically having no filter).
His parents were incredibly supportive. From the minute little Mike saw Sputnik streaking over the New Mexico skies he was rocket-obsessed. His mom gave him parts of her vacuum cleaner so that he could build rockets and let him heat his rocket fuel in her oven. His dad drove him to the desert to launch his rockets whenever he wanted.
Lots of criticism of NASA here. Mostly that astronaut selection was a total black box, so all the astronauts were afraid to speak against management even when it would have made them safer. After the success of Apollo, NASA became overconfident and designed a system (the space shuttle) with no real possibility of escape, unlike all previous NASA systems which had the ability to abort. They then declared it operational after just a few flights and proceeded to pack in the launches one after another. Finally there was the “normalization of deviance� where things would not work as intended but NASA would decide the risk was not worth a redesign or pause to the launch schedule. Both the O Ring damage on Challenger and the foam damage on Columbia were observed on countless flights before the fatal ones, but were always written off as not posing a real threat.
Mike loves a good joke at the expense of the female astronauts (he basically made half the sexist jokes described in The Six) but also goes out of his way to say how competent they were and how he was proud to work alongside them, particularly Judy who he flew with and was close with before she died on Challenger.
Bill Bookworm’s running NASA books ranking:
1. Carrying the Fire (first person, put you in his shoes, authentic writing style, there for the first moon landing)
2. The Right Stuff (unexpectedly hilarious)
3. A Man on the Moon (Good balance of highlights of each Apollo mission, backstories of astronauts, not funny like The Right Stuff but probably closer to reality)
4. Apollo 13 (epic story, but you could tell it’s ghost written compared to Carrying the Fire)
5. Riding Rockets (very funny, and honest look at NASA from an insider)
6. The Six (great stories worth telling, but no first person perspective and we stay in earth’s orbit)
7. Endurance (no knock on Scott at all, great book, but less interesting content to work with)
8. Failure is Not an Option (good book, but Mission Control is just less exciting than the astronaut stories)
Mike Mullane’s career as an astronaut is not as exciting as going to the moon, but he makes up for it with a lot of jokes and some brutal honesty (basically having no filter).
His parents were incredibly supportive. From the minute little Mike saw Sputnik streaking over the New Mexico skies he was rocket-obsessed. His mom gave him parts of her vacuum cleaner so that he could build rockets and let him heat his rocket fuel in her oven. His dad drove him to the desert to launch his rockets whenever he wanted.
Lots of criticism of NASA here. Mostly that astronaut selection was a total black box, so all the astronauts were afraid to speak against management even when it would have made them safer. After the success of Apollo, NASA became overconfident and designed a system (the space shuttle) with no real possibility of escape, unlike all previous NASA systems which had the ability to abort. They then declared it operational after just a few flights and proceeded to pack in the launches one after another. Finally there was the “normalization of deviance� where things would not work as intended but NASA would decide the risk was not worth a redesign or pause to the launch schedule. Both the O Ring damage on Challenger and the foam damage on Columbia were observed on countless flights before the fatal ones, but were always written off as not posing a real threat.
Mike loves a good joke at the expense of the female astronauts (he basically made half the sexist jokes described in The Six) but also goes out of his way to say how competent they were and how he was proud to work alongside them, particularly Judy who he flew with and was close with before she died on Challenger.
Bill Bookworm’s running NASA books ranking:
1. Carrying the Fire (first person, put you in his shoes, authentic writing style, there for the first moon landing)
2. The Right Stuff (unexpectedly hilarious)
3. A Man on the Moon (Good balance of highlights of each Apollo mission, backstories of astronauts, not funny like The Right Stuff but probably closer to reality)
4. Apollo 13 (epic story, but you could tell it’s ghost written compared to Carrying the Fire)
5. Riding Rockets (very funny, and honest look at NASA from an insider)
6. The Six (great stories worth telling, but no first person perspective and we stay in earth’s orbit)
7. Endurance (no knock on Scott at all, great book, but less interesting content to work with)
8. Failure is Not an Option (good book, but Mission Control is just less exciting than the astronaut stories)
June 3, 2011
Of all the astronaut biographies published over the past 30 years Mike Mullane’s Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut stands apart from the rest. An alternate title for Mullane’s book could easily be The Sacred and the Profane, because the author, a former shuttle astronaut, delivers a no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners peek inside examination of NASA’s astronaut office that is irreverent and occasionally blasphemous, yet engaging and spellbinding.
Like most astronauts of his generation, Mullane was inspired by Sputnik to spend his high school years building rockets (for “high school projects�) with the blessing of his constantly supportive parents (he speaks fondly of his father who was crippled by polio when Mike was a boy). After flying 134 missions in Vietnam, he volunteered for the space program where he was subjected to every test known to man or beast including counting backwards by 7 (a test he failed) and a colonoscopy. “I was determined when the NASA proctologist looked up my ass he would see pipes so dazzling he would ask the nurse to get his sunglasses.�
Having passed the clean ass exam, Mullane joined a new class of trainees, the TFNGs (either the thirty five new guys or the fucking new guys depending on who you ask), the first class that NASA tried to diversify, hiring African American men and white women (including Judy Resnik and Sally Ride). Mullane has no problem accepting other races, but initially holds the same chauvinistic sexist views about women that characterized an era. He spent 12 years in all boys Catholic schools, followed by the military academy, followed by Vietnam. His only concept of women came from his mother and his wife, both of whom seemed content and fulfilled without a career. Mullane is honest about these feelings in the book, and while we can’t really cheer for him for his Road to Damascus revelation that “Oh wow! Women can be as talented and as smart and as good as men,� I did appreciate his candor.
And NASA clearly was a boys club. Where else can you “snort� at particularly attractive women (as in “I want to snort her flanks�) and get away with it? Or use the shuttle manipulator arm and camera to give head-to-toe inspections of female colleagues, as Mullane remembers doing? And where else but in microgravity do you get a “morning� Viagra effect thanks to the redistribution of blood?On orbit opportunities abounded for the Planet AD crowd. One shuttle commander, a particularly right-wing crewmember, ordered a countdown from a colleague—literally, �3, 2, 1, 0!”—in orbit so he could “squeeze � out a [fecal] muffin on that [expletive] Castro� as the shuttle passed over Havana. To say that Mullane and the other Planet AD inhabitants were uninhibited is an understatement. They were living on the edge—seemingly impervious. Of course, some of the more conservative post-doctorate members and female astronauts weren’t so amused. According to the author, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, carried a heavy feminist chip on her shoulder. But other female astronauts, like Judy Resnik and Rhea Seddon, shrugged it all off and gave as good as they got.
However, discount the profane in this book, entertaining though it may be. Instead, admire Mullane’s moving description of the sacred ground of the Beach House, with its Ozzie and Harriet furniture, where the Challenger crew last saw their loved ones. And appreciate, along with Mullane, his close friendship with fellow TFNG Judy Resnik. A few strands of her hair were all that were recovered after the Challenger disaster. Considering it is doubtful we will ever read a dedicated biography of Judy Resnik, this book probably provides the best insight into her life as an astronaut. This book is an honest, sympathetic and authentic look into the fears and frustrations in these astronauts� lives.
Like most astronauts of his generation, Mullane was inspired by Sputnik to spend his high school years building rockets (for “high school projects�) with the blessing of his constantly supportive parents (he speaks fondly of his father who was crippled by polio when Mike was a boy). After flying 134 missions in Vietnam, he volunteered for the space program where he was subjected to every test known to man or beast including counting backwards by 7 (a test he failed) and a colonoscopy. “I was determined when the NASA proctologist looked up my ass he would see pipes so dazzling he would ask the nurse to get his sunglasses.�
Having passed the clean ass exam, Mullane joined a new class of trainees, the TFNGs (either the thirty five new guys or the fucking new guys depending on who you ask), the first class that NASA tried to diversify, hiring African American men and white women (including Judy Resnik and Sally Ride). Mullane has no problem accepting other races, but initially holds the same chauvinistic sexist views about women that characterized an era. He spent 12 years in all boys Catholic schools, followed by the military academy, followed by Vietnam. His only concept of women came from his mother and his wife, both of whom seemed content and fulfilled without a career. Mullane is honest about these feelings in the book, and while we can’t really cheer for him for his Road to Damascus revelation that “Oh wow! Women can be as talented and as smart and as good as men,� I did appreciate his candor.
And NASA clearly was a boys club. Where else can you “snort� at particularly attractive women (as in “I want to snort her flanks�) and get away with it? Or use the shuttle manipulator arm and camera to give head-to-toe inspections of female colleagues, as Mullane remembers doing? And where else but in microgravity do you get a “morning� Viagra effect thanks to the redistribution of blood?On orbit opportunities abounded for the Planet AD crowd. One shuttle commander, a particularly right-wing crewmember, ordered a countdown from a colleague—literally, �3, 2, 1, 0!”—in orbit so he could “squeeze � out a [fecal] muffin on that [expletive] Castro� as the shuttle passed over Havana. To say that Mullane and the other Planet AD inhabitants were uninhibited is an understatement. They were living on the edge—seemingly impervious. Of course, some of the more conservative post-doctorate members and female astronauts weren’t so amused. According to the author, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, carried a heavy feminist chip on her shoulder. But other female astronauts, like Judy Resnik and Rhea Seddon, shrugged it all off and gave as good as they got.
However, discount the profane in this book, entertaining though it may be. Instead, admire Mullane’s moving description of the sacred ground of the Beach House, with its Ozzie and Harriet furniture, where the Challenger crew last saw their loved ones. And appreciate, along with Mullane, his close friendship with fellow TFNG Judy Resnik. A few strands of her hair were all that were recovered after the Challenger disaster. Considering it is doubtful we will ever read a dedicated biography of Judy Resnik, this book probably provides the best insight into her life as an astronaut. This book is an honest, sympathetic and authentic look into the fears and frustrations in these astronauts� lives.
January 28, 2024
«Верхи на шатлі» Майк Маллейн від Бородатий Тамарин.
🕐Час читання: 2 місяці.
🤔Причина:
допитливо насолоджувалась книгою та розтягувала її; дивилась відео з Маллейном, шукала дати, космічні місії та кораблі, описані катастрофи та інших астронавтів.
⭐️Оцінка: 15/10.
В книзі багато фото з особистого архіву Майка, і навіть з прапором України в його домі в Альбукерке. До фото автор просив додати: «Слава Україні в боротьбі за Незалежність».
Як ви вже зрозуміли, русофобія книги зашкалює (є причини😂). 🧡.
❔Про що історія?
Про мрію Майка Маллейна бути астронавтом НАСА, про її втілення, впертість та життя на шляху до її здійснення. Він таки тричі літав у космос на шатлах як спеціаліст місій: STS-41D (1984) на «Діскавері», STS-27 (1988) i STS-36 (1990) на «Атлантисі». Майк ще й полковник ВПС США у відставці.
Книга відверта та інтимна. Книга смішна. Книга щемка. Там море конструктивної критики до роботи НАСА та космічних проектів. І разом з тим ще більша та затятіша любов до космосу.
Я не знала, що дітей вчили збирати ракети і робити ракетне паливо. 🤷♀�.
Не памʼятаю, щоб я палко мріяла колись летіти в космос. Після прочитання цієї книги я навряд на 0,00001% хочу туди летіти. Ну чисто теоретично, заглянути як там - цікаво. Але втілювати це з описаними ризиками - дуже навряд. Це мабуть не популярно, але чесно.
А ще, автор пише про Кірка і клінгонського корабля😂😂😂, а це ж сєкта своїх😂. Ще якщо й серіал «теорія великого вибуху» любиш.
🙈Моє обурення:
невірність тамарин-фактору, мозковибуховість має бути вищою.
Наприклад, ви знали, що в шатлах не було системи евакуації персоналу?
Ну в скількох книгах автор розкаже про керування космічним кораблем, про випробування астронавтів, про жаргон та підколи із планети ЗР (іф ю ноу, вот ай мін), про те, як какати в космосі, їсти й митися. Про те, як це бачити планету, океани, переливання світла на пустелях, і відчуття. Про всі ті переживання, що проходять астронавти та їх родини.
Вау, словом.
📚Переклад.
Ярослава Панко, дякую вам за хороший живий переклад: книга читається емоційно, легко, весело та смішно, не шпортаєшся об слова чи конструкції речень.
🤷♀️Інкол� я ловила себе на думці чи точно Майк автор, чи хтось інший писав книгу. Більшість книги я була вражена підтримкою його дружини Донни. Вона присвятила своє життя здійсненню мрії чоловіка, виростила трьох дітей і жила життям іншої людини. Я б навряд могла стати такою. Це титанічна робота. І автор це прекрасно усвідомлює, бо присвятив дружині цілий розділ.
🧡Майк Маллейн став астронавтом в час золотої доби польотів шатлу, в час прийняттям суспільством жінок як самостійних одиниць, в час прийняття ЛГБТ та нац.меншин. Круто що автор акцентує на зміненій думці про жінок: «я побачив, що вони живі люди, з мріями і амбіціями, які просто потребують можливості виявити себе».
Не особливі умови, не тиск чи кпини. А просто можливість.
Я не спойлеритиму книгу.
Скажу лише, що це тепер одна із моїх най-най-най ❤️ книг.
І дякую команді Тамарина, що обрали саме її.
🕐Час читання: 2 місяці.
🤔Причина:
допитливо насолоджувалась книгою та розтягувала її; дивилась відео з Маллейном, шукала дати, космічні місії та кораблі, описані катастрофи та інших астронавтів.
⭐️Оцінка: 15/10.
В книзі багато фото з особистого архіву Майка, і навіть з прапором України в його домі в Альбукерке. До фото автор просив додати: «Слава Україні в боротьбі за Незалежність».
Як ви вже зрозуміли, русофобія книги зашкалює (є причини😂). 🧡.
❔Про що історія?
Про мрію Майка Маллейна бути астронавтом НАСА, про її втілення, впертість та життя на шляху до її здійснення. Він таки тричі літав у космос на шатлах як спеціаліст місій: STS-41D (1984) на «Діскавері», STS-27 (1988) i STS-36 (1990) на «Атлантисі». Майк ще й полковник ВПС США у відставці.
Книга відверта та інтимна. Книга смішна. Книга щемка. Там море конструктивної критики до роботи НАСА та космічних проектів. І разом з тим ще більша та затятіша любов до космосу.
Я не знала, що дітей вчили збирати ракети і робити ракетне паливо. 🤷♀�.
Не памʼятаю, щоб я палко мріяла колись летіти в космос. Після прочитання цієї книги я навряд на 0,00001% хочу туди летіти. Ну чисто теоретично, заглянути як там - цікаво. Але втілювати це з описаними ризиками - дуже навряд. Це мабуть не популярно, але чесно.
А ще, автор пише про Кірка і клінгонського корабля😂😂😂, а це ж сєкта своїх😂. Ще якщо й серіал «теорія великого вибуху» любиш.
🙈Моє обурення:
невірність тамарин-фактору, мозковибуховість має бути вищою.
Наприклад, ви знали, що в шатлах не було системи евакуації персоналу?
Ну в скількох книгах автор розкаже про керування космічним кораблем, про випробування астронавтів, про жаргон та підколи із планети ЗР (іф ю ноу, вот ай мін), про те, як какати в космосі, їсти й митися. Про те, як це бачити планету, океани, переливання світла на пустелях, і відчуття. Про всі ті переживання, що проходять астронавти та їх родини.
Вау, словом.
📚Переклад.
Ярослава Панко, дякую вам за хороший живий переклад: книга читається емоційно, легко, весело та смішно, не шпортаєшся об слова чи конструкції речень.
🤷♀️Інкол� я ловила себе на думці чи точно Майк автор, чи хтось інший писав книгу. Більшість книги я була вражена підтримкою його дружини Донни. Вона присвятила своє життя здійсненню мрії чоловіка, виростила трьох дітей і жила життям іншої людини. Я б навряд могла стати такою. Це титанічна робота. І автор це прекрасно усвідомлює, бо присвятив дружині цілий розділ.
🧡Майк Маллейн став астронавтом в час золотої доби польотів шатлу, в час прийняттям суспільством жінок як самостійних одиниць, в час прийняття ЛГБТ та нац.меншин. Круто що автор акцентує на зміненій думці про жінок: «я побачив, що вони живі люди, з мріями і амбіціями, які просто потребують можливості виявити себе».
Не особливі умови, не тиск чи кпини. А просто можливість.
Я не спойлеритиму книгу.
Скажу лише, що це тепер одна із моїх най-най-най ❤️ книг.
І дякую команді Тамарина, що обрали саме її.
July 13, 2024
Після прочитання цієї книги ви будете знати всі деталі про спорядження, підготовку до походу в туалет та навіть про ерекцію у космосі.
Майк Маллейн входив у першу групу астронавтів космічного шатла і побував у трьох місіях. Він полковник ВПС та ветеран війни. На жаль, через поганий зір він так і не зміг стати пілотом, але зміг ввійти в НАСА. Майк у своїй книзі розповідає не лише про космос, а і про інші події, пов’язан� з тим, що він став астронавтом: знайомства зі знаменитостями, візит у Білий Дім.
У нього чудовий гумор та вміння сміятися з самого себе. Його життя неймовірно насичене на події, тому читати про це дуже цікаво. Правда, інколи він вдавався в занадто велику кількість деталей, наприклад, про вдягання презерватива перед зльотом. Тому зазначення «обурливі історії» дуже влучно відповідає тому, про що розповідає Майк.
Проте сумно, що про самі місії говориться дуже мало. Двічі Майк мав засекречені місії і навіть зараз не може повністю розповісти про них. Зате дуже цікаво розповідається про його власне захоплення космосом, вигляд Землі та перебування в кабіні. Він не вдається в деталі самих місій, але розповідає про власні почуття від них, дозволяючи нам на секунду уявити себе на його місці.
Цікаво було також читати про його роздуми щодо керівництва НАСА, причин трагедій та процесу супроводу дружин. Було сумно розуміти, що катастрофі шатла «Челленджер» можна було запобігти, якби НАСА не почали вважати себе всемогутніми і йти на поступки політикам. Через керівництво атмосфера серед астронавтів була пригнічена, повна страху і неможливості висловити власні думки. Якби вони мали більше впевненості та взаємодії з керівництвом, то процеси йшли б набагато краще, і можливо, керівництво серйозніше ставилось би до безпеки польотів, а астронавти не боялись би говорити про існуючі проблеми.
Також мені сподобалось, наскільки щирим був Маллейн при розповіді про сексизм, що існував серед астронавтів, і дуже тішить, що кожного разу він підкреслював, що проблема була саме в чоловіках. Чоловіки, які звикли існувати лише серед чоловіків. Чоловіки з планети, як він це називав, ЗР (затримка розвитку). Проте він розповідає, як з часом ситуація почала змінюватися, і як він сам почав зовсім по-іншому дивитися на жінок та їхні можливості. Великий вплив на це мала його дружба з Джудіт, яка загинула на борту «Челленджера». Було приємно читати, як він переосмислює власне ставлення до жінок і чому ж в них з дитинства, як у нього, не було бажання злітати у космос.
Я справді отримала велике задоволення від прочитання цієї історії, але дуже сумно, що керівництво не цінувало астронавтів та їхнє життя. Як можна було так байдуже ставитися до проблем із штукою, що летить в космос?!
Майк Маллейн входив у першу групу астронавтів космічного шатла і побував у трьох місіях. Він полковник ВПС та ветеран війни. На жаль, через поганий зір він так і не зміг стати пілотом, але зміг ввійти в НАСА. Майк у своїй книзі розповідає не лише про космос, а і про інші події, пов’язан� з тим, що він став астронавтом: знайомства зі знаменитостями, візит у Білий Дім.
У нього чудовий гумор та вміння сміятися з самого себе. Його життя неймовірно насичене на події, тому читати про це дуже цікаво. Правда, інколи він вдавався в занадто велику кількість деталей, наприклад, про вдягання презерватива перед зльотом. Тому зазначення «обурливі історії» дуже влучно відповідає тому, про що розповідає Майк.
Проте сумно, що про самі місії говориться дуже мало. Двічі Майк мав засекречені місії і навіть зараз не може повністю розповісти про них. Зате дуже цікаво розповідається про його власне захоплення космосом, вигляд Землі та перебування в кабіні. Він не вдається в деталі самих місій, але розповідає про власні почуття від них, дозволяючи нам на секунду уявити себе на його місці.
Цікаво було також читати про його роздуми щодо керівництва НАСА, причин трагедій та процесу супроводу дружин. Було сумно розуміти, що катастрофі шатла «Челленджер» можна було запобігти, якби НАСА не почали вважати себе всемогутніми і йти на поступки політикам. Через керівництво атмосфера серед астронавтів була пригнічена, повна страху і неможливості висловити власні думки. Якби вони мали більше впевненості та взаємодії з керівництвом, то процеси йшли б набагато краще, і можливо, керівництво серйозніше ставилось би до безпеки польотів, а астронавти не боялись би говорити про існуючі проблеми.
Також мені сподобалось, наскільки щирим був Маллейн при розповіді про сексизм, що існував серед астронавтів, і дуже тішить, що кожного разу він підкреслював, що проблема була саме в чоловіках. Чоловіки, які звикли існувати лише серед чоловіків. Чоловіки з планети, як він це називав, ЗР (затримка розвитку). Проте він розповідає, як з часом ситуація почала змінюватися, і як він сам почав зовсім по-іншому дивитися на жінок та їхні можливості. Великий вплив на це мала його дружба з Джудіт, яка загинула на борту «Челленджера». Було приємно читати, як він переосмислює власне ставлення до жінок і чому ж в них з дитинства, як у нього, не було бажання злітати у космос.
Я справді отримала велике задоволення від прочитання цієї історії, але дуже сумно, що керівництво не цінувало астронавтів та їхнє життя. Як можна було так байдуже ставитися до проблем із штукою, що летить в космос?!
June 20, 2015
I've written this review about thirty times in my head. After reading An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, I wanted more space. I read the summary for this, but rejected it until Mary Roach mentioned it as "if you only read one astronaut biography, read this one". (Her book was published before Hadfield's.)
It's...hysterical. I literally laughed until I cried at some points. Mullane writes irreverently about the first decade of the space shuttle program, revealing NASA as it was, warts and all.
But oh, the misogyny. It dripped from every page, lurking in every chapter and leaping out at unexpected moments. I suspect Mullane is beloved friend, husband, and father, but the contempt he holds for people (read: women) unwilling to put up with his "Planet Arrested Development" outlook is stomach-churning. It makes me sad and upset that this guy was an astronaut, who got to go into space three times, representing his country. It makes me angry that someone published what he says about women in the 21st century. There are places in the narrative where he almost seems to apologize for his behavior - he lays out what he did or said, elevates the person who put up with it for, well, putting up with it, but he never condemns himself or his fellow astronauts or apologizes in any way. No mention about they shouldn't have had to put up with it in the first place.
He almost, almost pulls it up at the end, outlining what he learned about the bravery and dedication of women (and civilian post-docs, the poor things) and how it changed him. There's a particularly moving story where he first notes angrily that all these women probably just up and decided to be astronauts when they saw a poster on a job bulletin board...only to come to the realization that a little girl seeing Sputnik go up in the 1950s and wanting to be an astronaut would be discouraged at every turn, unlike Mullane, who had the full, enthusiastic support of his parents, teachers, and the military. I'm just not sure if it makes up for the previous 350 rage-inducing pages of "god, feminists, why so uptight?"
In the end, his attitude made it hard to take his complaints about the organizational structure of NASA at the time and how it lead to the Challenger incident. Sorry dude, but while you were a small cog in the machine, the "Right Stuff" attitude held by you and most everyone else in the space program at the time only contributed.
It's...hysterical. I literally laughed until I cried at some points. Mullane writes irreverently about the first decade of the space shuttle program, revealing NASA as it was, warts and all.
But oh, the misogyny. It dripped from every page, lurking in every chapter and leaping out at unexpected moments. I suspect Mullane is beloved friend, husband, and father, but the contempt he holds for people (read: women) unwilling to put up with his "Planet Arrested Development" outlook is stomach-churning. It makes me sad and upset that this guy was an astronaut, who got to go into space three times, representing his country. It makes me angry that someone published what he says about women in the 21st century. There are places in the narrative where he almost seems to apologize for his behavior - he lays out what he did or said, elevates the person who put up with it for, well, putting up with it, but he never condemns himself or his fellow astronauts or apologizes in any way. No mention about they shouldn't have had to put up with it in the first place.
He almost, almost pulls it up at the end, outlining what he learned about the bravery and dedication of women (and civilian post-docs, the poor things) and how it changed him. There's a particularly moving story where he first notes angrily that all these women probably just up and decided to be astronauts when they saw a poster on a job bulletin board...only to come to the realization that a little girl seeing Sputnik go up in the 1950s and wanting to be an astronaut would be discouraged at every turn, unlike Mullane, who had the full, enthusiastic support of his parents, teachers, and the military. I'm just not sure if it makes up for the previous 350 rage-inducing pages of "god, feminists, why so uptight?"
In the end, his attitude made it hard to take his complaints about the organizational structure of NASA at the time and how it lead to the Challenger incident. Sorry dude, but while you were a small cog in the machine, the "Right Stuff" attitude held by you and most everyone else in the space program at the time only contributed.
September 16, 2024
Lo leí hace años. Una buena lectura para quien quiera saber lo que significa "de verdad" hoy día ser astronauta. Con pocos pelos en la lengua, las glorias y las miserias de la profesión, con multitud de anécdotas personales. Ameno y curioso.
Aunque la mayor parte de las reseñas aquí en ŷ son de 5 estrellas, veo también bastantes de 1 y 2 estrellas, y al leerlas veo que coinciden todas en lo mismo: en el estilo de adolescente absesionado con el sexo con el que escribe Mullane. Y es cierto, tienen razón. Quizás puedo entender que moleste, pero lo cierto es que yo lo entiendo como Mullane riéndose de sí mismo. Sí, hay muchas anécdotas sobre temas genitales y escatológicos, pero ¿quién no se ha preguntado cómo es ir al baño en el espacio, o cómo elegir la talla del adaptador para la bolsa para la orina? Mullane se recrea en estas cosas, pero lo hace con humor, y son detalles curiosos que uno generalmente no encuentra en otra parte.
También es cierto que Mullane se presenta a él y a sus colegas astronautas masculinos como machotes a los que de sus compañeras solo les interesa su físico. De nuevo, hay aquí bastante de verdad (eran los 80, eran otros tiempos, y Mullane encima venía del sector militar; casi ná...) pero también mucho de reírse de sí mismo: Mullane se representa a él y a sus colegas, con humor, como los típicos militares machitos y chulitos, que inicialmente se creen por encima de todos, especialmente de las mujeres y de los astronautas de origen civil (ingenieros y demás), y que luego terminan comprobando cómo sus compañeros también "tienen lo que hay que tener". Vale, bastante tópico, pero la verdad es que Mullane lo presenta con bastante humor.
En resumen, aunque estoy de acuerdo con el fondo de las críticas, para mí en realidad se trata simplemente de un toque más de sinceridad y humor por parte de Mullane al describir la vida del astronauta medio. Muy alejado del punto de vista heroico y casi de superhombre con el que se los pinta (o pintaba, que ya prácticamente cualquiera con unos cuantos millones en su cuenta puede comprarse un billete como astronauta-turista privado) a menudo. Precisamente eso me parece aún más valorable.
Aunque la mayor parte de las reseñas aquí en ŷ son de 5 estrellas, veo también bastantes de 1 y 2 estrellas, y al leerlas veo que coinciden todas en lo mismo: en el estilo de adolescente absesionado con el sexo con el que escribe Mullane. Y es cierto, tienen razón. Quizás puedo entender que moleste, pero lo cierto es que yo lo entiendo como Mullane riéndose de sí mismo. Sí, hay muchas anécdotas sobre temas genitales y escatológicos, pero ¿quién no se ha preguntado cómo es ir al baño en el espacio, o cómo elegir la talla del adaptador para la bolsa para la orina? Mullane se recrea en estas cosas, pero lo hace con humor, y son detalles curiosos que uno generalmente no encuentra en otra parte.
También es cierto que Mullane se presenta a él y a sus colegas astronautas masculinos como machotes a los que de sus compañeras solo les interesa su físico. De nuevo, hay aquí bastante de verdad (eran los 80, eran otros tiempos, y Mullane encima venía del sector militar; casi ná...) pero también mucho de reírse de sí mismo: Mullane se representa a él y a sus colegas, con humor, como los típicos militares machitos y chulitos, que inicialmente se creen por encima de todos, especialmente de las mujeres y de los astronautas de origen civil (ingenieros y demás), y que luego terminan comprobando cómo sus compañeros también "tienen lo que hay que tener". Vale, bastante tópico, pero la verdad es que Mullane lo presenta con bastante humor.
En resumen, aunque estoy de acuerdo con el fondo de las críticas, para mí en realidad se trata simplemente de un toque más de sinceridad y humor por parte de Mullane al describir la vida del astronauta medio. Muy alejado del punto de vista heroico y casi de superhombre con el que se los pinta (o pintaba, que ya prácticamente cualquiera con unos cuantos millones en su cuenta puede comprarse un billete como astronauta-turista privado) a menudo. Precisamente eso me parece aún más valorable.
November 4, 2014
A very interesting book. The inside look at the shortfalls of NASA's management was fascinating, and some of the writing is actually quite beautiful.
My problem with this book isn't that I don't think it's good. My problem is with Mike Mullane. The level of misogyny and lack of respect for women exhibited by the author and some of his other male co-astronauts (most of whom have a military background) is downright shocking. Mr. Mullane often claims that he's embarrassed about how he treated and talked about women, but then goes on to give countless examples of jokes and stunts pulled at the expense of females he knew and worked with and talked about how funny his high jinks were, usually explaining them away with a shrug and some kind of "boys will be boys" sentiment. Near the end of the book he even bemoans the current politically correct culture in NASA and says that it doesn't sound like much fun, as though an organization might be wrong to progress from a boys club to a place of equality. If Mr. Mullane's account is in any way an accurate representation of what he and some of the other shuttle astronauts were actually like, I think it's a disgrace that NASA could spend so much money to send such backward-thinking individuals to represent our country in space, a privilege that should be reserved for the best and brightest humanity has to offer.
My problem with this book isn't that I don't think it's good. My problem is with Mike Mullane. The level of misogyny and lack of respect for women exhibited by the author and some of his other male co-astronauts (most of whom have a military background) is downright shocking. Mr. Mullane often claims that he's embarrassed about how he treated and talked about women, but then goes on to give countless examples of jokes and stunts pulled at the expense of females he knew and worked with and talked about how funny his high jinks were, usually explaining them away with a shrug and some kind of "boys will be boys" sentiment. Near the end of the book he even bemoans the current politically correct culture in NASA and says that it doesn't sound like much fun, as though an organization might be wrong to progress from a boys club to a place of equality. If Mr. Mullane's account is in any way an accurate representation of what he and some of the other shuttle astronauts were actually like, I think it's a disgrace that NASA could spend so much money to send such backward-thinking individuals to represent our country in space, a privilege that should be reserved for the best and brightest humanity has to offer.
September 22, 2010
I've always been a NASA/space shuttle geek, and Mullane's book, recommended to me by several friends, was an excellent look behind the scenes at JSC and KSC, and how the program unfolded. If you can tolerate not-that-rare occasions of crude and sexist humor, it's pretty funny, and reading his stories of interactions with the ill-fated crew of Challenger, especially Judy Reznik, were particularly touching, too. Anyone who is a fan of NASA and manned space exploration in general, and the shuttle in particular, will definitely enjoy Riding Rockets.
December 15, 2008
George Carlin meets John Glenn. If you can get past the constant sexism and crude excuses for humor, Mike Mullane offers a wide-eyed glimpse into space travel that might turn out to be the closest any of us ever get. For that reason, a good read but not a great one.
January 4, 2008
Mike Mullane has a strong tendancy towards being a sexist pig. That said, this was the most entertaining astronaut memoirs I've read. (And I've read a lot.)
Read
October 4, 2019My feelings toward this book are best summed up in Kathryn's review which is in the link below. Blegh.
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September 13, 2024
3.5/5
The guy is kind of a bonehead, but I do appreciate his honesty.
There's quite a bit of sexism which I didn't like. I get that the guy grew up in a very male-dominated environment (although it's a bit weird to pretend you're a total incel when you're actually married with kids) but it almost feels like he's not looking back and thinking what a pig he was, rather he's looking back of proud of all the witty dick jokes he made.
And the more you read it the worse he gets - "Nah, my wife wasn't beautiful. She was alright. But my colleague who I lusted after, wow, SHE was beautiful", or surprising his wife with a topless painting of herself at a party of people.
At times you feel like you're reading a Tucker Max book, then you remember he's a 60 year old retired Colonel.
He's got a very high opinion of himself, and of the military, even going as far as saying non military lack life experience, although in fairness he did acknowledge that only being in the military results in its own lack of experience.
The book is interesting but some parts waffle on a bit, bitching about the guy's boss and management team.
Overall, a pretty decent read, if you can get past the author
The guy is kind of a bonehead, but I do appreciate his honesty.
There's quite a bit of sexism which I didn't like. I get that the guy grew up in a very male-dominated environment (although it's a bit weird to pretend you're a total incel when you're actually married with kids) but it almost feels like he's not looking back and thinking what a pig he was, rather he's looking back of proud of all the witty dick jokes he made.
And the more you read it the worse he gets - "Nah, my wife wasn't beautiful. She was alright. But my colleague who I lusted after, wow, SHE was beautiful", or surprising his wife with a topless painting of herself at a party of people.
At times you feel like you're reading a Tucker Max book, then you remember he's a 60 year old retired Colonel.
He's got a very high opinion of himself, and of the military, even going as far as saying non military lack life experience, although in fairness he did acknowledge that only being in the military results in its own lack of experience.
The book is interesting but some parts waffle on a bit, bitching about the guy's boss and management team.
Overall, a pretty decent read, if you can get past the author
December 29, 2023
This was a fantastic read for anyone interested in NASA and/or the birth of the shuttle program. As a child of Florida's space coast, I found the stories and history particularly poignant. The good, the bad and the ugly all told with a great sense of humor. If you're a feminist with no tolerance for men, especially men raised in an era when masculinity was still a good thing, this book probably isn't for you. Though by the end of the book, the author does come to realize that women are capable of much more than he realized. His language and description of certain things can be a bit of an eye opener if you're not used to it. I personally enjoyed this book immensely!
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