Do Your Ears Pop in Space? and 500 Other Surprising Questions about Space Travel

by Mike Mullane

"An excellent reference. This book has to be on the shelf of everyspace buff." --James Lovell, Commander, Apollo 13. Get the inside story on outer space from three-time shuttleastronaut R. Mike Mullane. "A fascinating collection of honest, factual, from-the-heartanswers to the most often asked questions about spaceflight andspacefliers. Required reading for all who aspire to travel inspace." --Kathy Thornton, 4-mission Shuttle Astronaut, World RecordHolder for Spacewalks by a Woman. "A brilliant addition to the understanding of space flight. Only aman who has been there--outer space--and done that--fly the SpaceShuttle--could render the complexities of flying in space solucidly." --Walter J. Boyne, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), Former Director,National Air and Space Museum. "A highly informative inside view of what astronauts reallyexperience in space." --Ed Buckbee, Former Director, U.S. Space& Rocket and U.S. Space Camp. "All astronauts have been peppered with great questions. MikeMullane has great answers." --Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, U.S.Navy (Ret.), Columbia 1981, Challenger 1983, NASA Administrator1989-1992.

Genres: Space, Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Biography

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 1997

About the author

Richard 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.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a space nerd. It was written by a real astronaut, who answered every question about space before I could think of any. Of course, an astronaut isn’t a writer, and so there was something about the writing style I didn’t like, but that didn’t matter to a space-obsessed nerd like me.

[Ricki Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I freaking love science and this book helps satisfy my need to know all the science-y things in regards to manned space travel. My inner Punky Brewster is very glad I discovered this book. My compliments to the author for creating an extremely fascinating and informative guide to space travel that is very readable for those of us who aren't rocket scientists. This edition was published in 1997, pre-space station and before the Columbia disaster, so I hope a sequel is in the works to address those topics, to explore the developments made in the last 15+ years, and to discuss the future of manned space travel. In the meantime, I'll occupy myself with a binge of every other space-related book on my library's shelves. :)

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book years ago for my husband when I was at a conference. The author spoke and I got a signed copy. I thought my husband would like it because he is an engineer and likes to know how stuff works. So after all these years I decided to give it a look and I ended up really captivated by this book. The author poses questions he has received from people over his career as an astronaut. The answers are technically accurate but understandably to the average layperson. His explanations are interesting and enjoyable. I believe anyone would find this book interesting. A very fun read. It just makes me wish the shuttle program was still running.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book, and got out of reading it the confirmation of my wish to some day go into space. I was also intrigued and amused by the confirmation, sometimes humorous confirmation, of what it feels like to be in orbit (I just finished my space physiology and psychology class for my master's, a class taught by another astronaut hero of mine, Wendy Lawrence) outside of a class setting. The book is a bit dated, being published in '97, well before the Columbia accident and last year's shuttle retirement, but it is still a very good book to read.

[Jacqueline Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as research for writing science fiction. For that purpose a lot of it wasn't that helpful since it was very focused on NASA shuttle operations. But there was also a substantial amount about what it is like in weightlessness, which I found quite useful, and it helped give an overall impression of the difficulties of space travel. Discounting writing research, it was very interesting, it answered questions I never knew I wanted answered. It was also very readable. Although the chapter called "Space Physiology" has put my right off the idea of space travel.

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the US space program. Mullane does a great job of discussing all the various aspects of shuttle operations, right down to the details of how the toilets work (hint: it's complicated).

After reading this book I was left for a tremendous nostalgia for the Space Shuttle. It ma have been a very flawed program, but we did get out there in space and do some great things.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

an extremely entertaining, interesting, and informative read

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13233786

[Cynthia Ayerdi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a signed copy from Goodwill, and the book is a great read! Kind of outdated, but it's still pretty educational.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun for kids and adults.