The Sky Above - John Howard Casper

The Sky Above

An Astronaut's Memoir of Adventure, Persistence, and Faith
Buch | Hardcover
312 Seiten
2022
Purdue University Press (Verlag)
978-1-61249-716-7 (ISBN)
29,85 inkl. MwSt
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 as a combat fighter pilot and test pilot. Despite life-threatening experiences and failures, his spiritual faith was pivotal in overcoming life’s challenges.
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.

Colonel John H. Casper, USAF (Ret.), is a former combat fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and Space Shuttle commander. After graduating from the US Air Force Academy and earning a master's degree in astronautics at Purdue University, he flew 229 combat missions in Vietnam and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served as a Cold War fighter pilot in Europe and later graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School. While a test pilot, he commanded a test squadron and flew classified aircraft. Casper is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions—three as commander and one as pilot. Following his spaceflight career, he provided senior leadership as director of safety, reliability, and quality assurance at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He also served as a senior manager in the Space Shuttle and Orion programs. He currently lives in Montreat, North Carolina.

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

Erscheinungsdatum
Reihe/Serie Purdue Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics
Zusatzinfo 34 illustrations
Verlagsort West Lafayette
Sprache englisch
Maße 152 x 229 mm
Gewicht 289 g
Themenwelt Literatur Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
Sachbuch/Ratgeber Geschichte / Politik
Technik Fahrzeugbau / Schiffbau
Technik Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
ISBN-10 1-61249-716-0 / 1612497160
ISBN-13 978-1-61249-716-7 / 9781612497167
Zustand Neuware
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