The Sky Above (eBook)

An Astronaut’s Memoir of Adventure, Persistence, and Faith

John Howard Casper (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
312 Seiten
Purdue University Press (Verlag)
978-1-61249-728-0 (ISBN)

Infos

Looking up at the stars at the age of ten, John Casper dreamed of being a space explorer. The Sky Above tells how persistence and determination led to flying in space, after serving the nation as a combat fighter pilot and test pilot. Despite life-threatening experiences and failures, his spiritual faith was pivotal in overcoming life’s challenges.

Through vivid storytelling, the reader rides alongside the author in the cockpit, feeling the fear of enemy antiaircraft fire and the pressure of high g-forces during combat maneuvering. His insider accounts of four Space Shuttle missions vividly describe exhilarating launches, the magical experience of weightlessness, and the magnificent beauty of Earth from hundreds of miles above.

A central theme running throughout Casper’s life is his faith, as he struggles with the loss of fellow pilots and confronts life’s inconsistencies and disappointments. This is a story about his growth and trust in his Creator, whose tenacious spirit never left him, even during the devastating Challenger and Columbia disasters.

Readers interested in stories of true adventure or overcoming adversity will discover unique drama and insight. Those trying to reach their dreams, whatever they are, will find inspiration; those unsure or challenged in their faith will find encouragement.

Inhalt

Part I

1. A Lesson in Courage

2. My Crazy Dream

3. First Adventures

4. Ramblin’ Wrecks, Falcons, and Boilermakers

Part II

5. Tweets, Talons, and Super Sabres

6. Combat with the Lucky Devils

7. Cold War Fighter Pilot

8. Experimental Test Pilot

9. Life in the Puzzle Palace

Part III

10. Challenger and Return to Flight

11. Space Shuttle Rookie

12. Space Shuttle Commander

13. Microgravity Lab

14. Saving the Space Station

15. A Four-Rendezvous Flight

Part IV

16. Safety Director

17. The Unthinkable Happens

18. Return to Flight . . . Again

19. First Test Flight of Orion

Acknowledgments

Appendix: Aircraft and Spacecraft Flown

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

About the Author

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 15.4.2022
• Reihe/Serie: Purdue Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Reihe/Serie: Purdue Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Zusatzinfo: 27 color photographs, 7 b/w photographs
• Verlagsort: West Lafayette
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Fahrzeugbau / Schiffbau
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
• Schlagworte: Adventure • Astronaut • aviation • Challenger disaster • Christianity • Columbia accident • Faith • fighter pilot • humans on Mars • human spaceflight • International Space Station • Military • moon base • Moon Landings • Nasa • Overcoming Adversity • Persistence • recovering from failure • Shuttle-Mir program • space shuttle • test pilot • US Air Force • Vietnam Air War • Vietnam POWs
• ISBN-10: 1-61249-728-4 / 1612497284
• ISBN-13: 978-1-61249-728-0 / 9781612497280