Sky Walking; An Astronaut's Memoir

Jones, Thomas D.

ISBN 10: 006085152X / ISBN 13: 9780060851521

Published by Smithsonian Books, Collins [an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers], New York, NY, 2006

About this Item

Glued binding. Paper over boards. xiv, 369, [1] pages. Illustrations (some in color). Inscribed by the author on title page. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. DJ has slight wear and soiling. Thomas David Jones (born January 22, 1955) is a former United States astronaut. He was selected to the astronaut corps in 1990 and completed four space shuttle flights before retiring in 2001. He flew on STS-59 and STS-68 in 1994, STS-80 in 1996 and STS-98 in 2001. His total mission time was 53 days 48 minutes. He works as a planetary scientist, space operations consultant, astronaut speaker, and author. From 1983 to 1988 Jones worked toward a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in Tucson. His research interests included the remote sensing of asteroids, meteorite spectroscopy, and applications of space resources. Jones performed advanced program planning for NASA's Solar System Exploration Division, investigating future robotic missions to Mars, asteroids, and the outer solar system. A gripping first-hand account of life in space and the making of an astronaut. Tom Jones flew four shuttle missions and led three space walks to deliver a US Lab to the Station. From B-52 pilot during the Cold War, to a Ph.D. in planetary science, to the rigors of astronaut training, his career pointed him toward the space shuttle. Jones candidly explains the professional and personal hardships faced by the astronauts. He found himself wondering if the risks he undertook were worth the toll on his family. Liftoffs were especially nerve-wracking but his 53 days in space were unforgettable adventures. Jones uses his background as a scientist to explain the practical applications of many of the shuttle's scientific missions, and describes what it's like to work with the international crews building and living aboard the space station. Tom Jones returned from his space station voyage to assess the impact of the 2003 Columbia tragedy, and prescribes a successful course for the U.S. in space. First Smithsonian Books edition [stated]. First Printing [Stated].

Seller Inventory # 77572

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Sky Walking; An Astronaut's Memoir
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books, Collins [an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers], New York, NY
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 006085152X
• ISBN 13: 9780060851521
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Space Shuttle
  • NASA
  • Astronauts

About this title

Synopsis

A former NASA astronaut details his odyssey from Air Force pilot and CIA scientist to an astronaut who flew four shuttle missions, describing his eleven years with NASA, his role in building the international space station, and the potential future of the space program in the wake of the Columbia tragedy. 20,000 first printing.

Review

'With humanity and passion (and less swagger than Mike Mullane), Jones powerfully brings to life the world of the modern NASA astronaut. Confined to low Earth orbit, no longer tasked with high-profile trips to the Moon, a small corps of dedicated professional space travelers work on serious science and dream of the day they will fly into space. Countless on-the-ground training hours prepare the astronauts for the rigors of space travel practicing an extravehicular space walk in a 10-million-gallon tank or being flung around in a 100,000-horsepower centrifuge to acclimate to the eight g's of force experienced on lift-off. A tested B-52 bomber pilot and planetary scientist, Jones still feels and expresses wonder at space flight: 'I was thirty-nine when I stepped out on the pad [in 1994] with the rest of the crew, but I gazed up at Endeavor with a child's amazement.... I shivered with excitement at the sight of my now-ready spaceship.' While the twin tragedies of Challenger and Columbia hang over the story like a pall, Jones still manages to fire the spirit and invite the reader to imagine a place for humankind beyond planet Earth.' - Publishers Weekly

'Jones' memoir of his work as an astronaut in the 1990s is an unusually expressive contribution to the spaceflight genre. His descriptions of launches and landings--Jones made four of each in the space shuttle--are as engrossing as any in the literature, as is his appreciation for the extreme peril facing those who volunteer to ride a rocket into space. So why do they? Jones' personal explanations are probably typical: NASA's 1960s missions excited and intrigued him, and he ascended the aerospace technology career ladder by flying B-52s, earning a doctorate, doing engineering for the CIA, and joining NASA. Clearly professional advancement is one motivation, but the exhilaration of being in space, and the spectacular extraterrestrial vistas it affords, remains an inspiration self-evident in Jones' account.' - Reed Business Information

--Various