The Eighth Astronaut was written in gratitude for the creative and dedicated team of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA has increased the world’s fund of knowledge, explored our universe, and recruited some of humanity’s best. The intention of The Eighth Astronaut is to provide readers with some insights into the time in history when the Challenger exploded, a little entertainment based upon actual events and people then, and a great deal of hope for future generations. This book is dedicated to the seven real-life heroes who risked and lost their lives when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off on January 28, 1986: