The astronaut maker : how one mysterious engineer ran human spaceflight for a generation /
Michael Cassutt.
- First edition.
- xix, 460 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 437-439) and index.
Part I: "Don't send me there" October sky The Abbeys Annapolis Air Force Dyna-Soar Boeing Part II: "Before this decade is out" Destination: Moon North American Aviation Houston and the Manned Spacecraft Center Astronaut Abbey The Phillips Report Flight Countdown Ashes Commitment From the Earth to the Moon Challenge One week in August Part III: "The quintessential staffer" Mission accomplished Apollo 13 Stability Gravity The Space Shuttle The Soviets Skylab The Ace Moving Company Apollo-Soyuz Part IV: "Ten consecutive miracles followed by an Act of God" The right stuff The next generation Approach and landing Thirty-five new guys Problems Those other astronauts STS-1 Part V: "Go at throttle up" The used spaceship Operational flight Frequent flying 1984 The breaking point The day the Earth stood still Recovery Marooned Part VI: "A national quasi-emergency" PEPCON The Space Exploration Initiative Synthesis Space Council Dan Goldin Space cowboys Redesign Hubble rescue A space odyssey Return to the JSC Part VII: "Together to the stars " A new direction The total equation Crises on Mir First element End game The journey continues
"One of the most elusive and controversial figures in NASA's history, George W. S. Abbey was called "the Dark Lord," "the Godfather," and "UNO" (unidentified NASA official) by those within NASA. From young pilot and wannabe astronaut to engineer, bureaucrat, and finally director of the Johnson Space Center ("mission control"), Abbey's story has never been fully told--until now. This fascinating account takes readers inside NASA to learn the real story of how Abbey rose to power and wielded it out of the spotlight. Informed by countless hours of interviews with Abbey and his family, friends, adversaries, and former colleagues, The Astronaut Maker is the ultimate insider's account of ambition and power politics at NASA"--
9781613737002 (hardback) 1613737009 (hardback)
2017060552
Abbey, George, 1932-
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration --Officials and employees--Biography. United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration --Management--History. Estados Unidos. Administración Nacional Aeronáutica y Espacial - (NASA) --Historia
Aerospace engineers--United States--Biography. Ingenieros aeroespaciales --Estados Unidos --Biografía Government executives--United States--Biography.