Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut

Mike Mullane was, by his own account, one of the traditional, right stuff military pilot astronauts. The swagger that must have been in his step is evident in this story of his experiences as a shuttle era astronaut. Mullane proves himself to be a splendid raconteur, making even the tedious seem entertaining. From the rigors of trying to pass medical tests, to the excitement of space travel, to the down and dirty vagaries of NASA office politics, Mullane tells it all and tells it well. Well know personalities are given form, warts and all. Many people have concluded that the whole shuttle experience was an unfortunate decades long detour between the end of Apollo and the upcoming return of human explorers to the Moon. But Mullanes story gives it an air of romance and, with the Challenger disaster, of tragedy. It was an era where the right stuff time of macho, astronaut pilots gave way to a more corporate culture that included women, scientists, and other non traditional astronauts. This is by far the best astronaut memoir ever written and it should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in space history, what really goes on at NASA, or just a crackling great story. Highly recommended.

In terms of astronaut autobiographies (and biographies), there isn't that much out there on shuttle astronauts. With the program winding down, we are starting to see some and IMHO Mike has set a pretty high bar (or low depending on your point of view). It is admittedly not a book for kids, unless they have the maturity to understand some of the humorous bits for what they are. Some adults even might be offended by the seemingly crass "toilet" humor, but it puts things into proper perspective about what life as an astronaut must have been like at the time. This is important to consider since I don't watch movies or comedy with "toilet" humor themes. But, I was brought up in a military family in the 1970s and have encountered similar characters in uniform to those that Mike describes in his book. So the humor does have its place in the context of this story.

The early childhood stuff is a fun read in and of itself. I too played with rockets as a kid. But of course it wasn't as dangerous as it was when Mike was flying them. The teenage and college years at West Point are also fascinating in terms of what it meant to grow up as a Catholic and be madly in love with someone (or lust) just to keep from going insane.

When the book gets to NASA's early shuttle days, you get insights into several of the characters that formed that first class of shuttle astronauts. Judy Resnik is the one people talk about the most, obviously considering her loss on Challenger. Considering it is doubtful we will ever read a dedicated biography of Judy Resnik, this book probably provides the best insight into her life as an astronaut. But the stories about other notable TFNGs such as Shannon Lucid, Hoot Gibson, Hank Hartsfield, Steve Hawley, Sally Ride and Rhea Seddon are also eye opening (how Rhea and Hoot ever decided to get married, I'll never know).

Mike's views on the goings-on at NASA certainly pull no punches. To me, his conclusions seem right on and it can be a real eye opener to see just how close to disaster that many shuttle flights got (but risk is part of the game in space exploration). It also provides hints as to why some astronauts were willing to stick with the program for the long haul while others retired after only a flight or two. The astronaut corps is certainly not for everybody in terms of its mix of hardware, engineering and bureaucracy.

The visions of Mike's views from orbit helped convey to me an idea of just what it may have been like, so I do believe the title of "poet" is a correct one for him. I too would have loved to zip up in a sleeping bag and drift next to an orbiter window, looking down at the world below. Considering that very few people can do that, this is the next best thing.

These are the reasons why I recommend this book. After reading it, I also urge you to pick up a copy of Tom Jones' book "Sky Walking" as, by some weird fate, it practically picks up where "Riding Rockets" left off as Tom entered the astronaut corps in the same year that Mike retired (1990). There are some interesting parallels as both Mike and Tom were selected as Mission Specialists, both were Catholics and both had Military backgrounds. But that is where the similarities end. That book is a different read and with it you can see how the astronaut corps seemed to grow out of its pre-PC days with the TFNGs to the current crop of astronauts who have the same love of the job, but who aren't into the beer drinking and childish antics. Mike mentions that briefly at the end of "Riding Rockets". With both books, you get an almost continuous history of the shuttle program from 1978 until 2001 (with "Riding Rockets" covering it from 1978 until 1990).

I bought this book because it looked interesting. I put it aside for about two weeks beofore starting it but once i did, i read it in less than a week.

Overall, the book was very good. It was never one of those, "I can't put it down" books but i always did look forward to having time to read it. I think that despite some other reviewers problems, Mike was more than fair and wasn't afraid to admit when he was wrong or how much he has grown since his "AD" (arrested development - referring to the sexist, immature attitude imparted on him by the USAF).

I truly enjoyed the insight into NASA and management practices in general. There were also many "laugh out loud moments"

It's so nice to read an astronaut memoir that is truthful, from the humor to the fear to the grief. None of this "All-American hero" crap that was so popular during the Original Seven days. (Yeah, I'm old enough to remember.)

As a child of the American Space Program, my father worked at Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center from pre-Mercury days through Apollo 12, I knew the real astronauts, the face never seen by the public. I saw the real men, not the cardboard characters.

With this book, Mike has revealed the men I came to love, the men from the Planet AD and the few women who knew what and how to handle these wonderfully funny and sweet and aggravating men.

I particularly loved the passages about Judy Resnik, a woman sadly overlooked by the press. I felt as if I had a chance to "meet" this marvelous woman. I thank you for that, Mike.

I have few "keeper" books, even with this area of interest. This is one I will reread when I get maudlin about our pitiful Space program and the brainless idiots who run NASA.

Thank you. Now, write some more!

I've read nearly every astronaut book out there, and it's very interesting to compare and contrast them - some astronauts are more forthcoming than others, some more humorous. But I really appreciate the astronaut authors who don't sugarcoat their experiences and their opinions at the risk of making themselves look bad. Mullane is one such author. A self-admitted chauvanist when he began his career at NASA in the 70s, Mullane provides a snapshot of the times. His stories about himself and the other NASA astronauts are always entertaining, even the offensive ones - they give a picture of astronauts are real people, not demi-gods.

One of the more eye opening aspects of the book are the details of the issues at NASA and with the shuttle program, and the near misses many of the missions had. I appreciated the insider's look at what the families of astronauts go through, and an attempt to understand what drives the astronauts to deal with the very real risk of spaceflight, even after seeing 7 of their friends killed by the very thing they desire above everything.

The book was just one man's life journey, and an attempt to put his experiences in some sort of perspective - because he was there for nearly the entire shuttle program, and it's not something we outsiders often have an inside view of. It's definitely worth a read. It made me laugh, cringe, mourn, and most importantly, think.

The book is an excellent read especially for those familiar with the space program or worked in the field. This especially applies to me as I was an instructor for the Apollo Astronauts and the Shuttle Astronauts from 1966 until 1992. Mike's book is the first book that has ever given any credit to the Training Team. In the past, I have never read anything that gives credit to the instructors that trained the Astronauts. Very seldom is credit ever given to the people that built the Apollo spacecraft or the Shuttle either. How many people can name the contractors? Hmmmmm I give credit to Mike for being honest about the NASA management and expressing his feelings. Many of us were not able to do that because we were contractors and NASA was our customer. I found nothing disagreeable with his thoughts and feelings in this area. I especially liked his personal feelings about his family and the crew members. I could not put the book down. I said "YES" outloud many many times in agreement with his comments. It almost inspires me to write a book myself to add to his story. If you are interested in the space program you better read this book..........thanks Mike

I met Mike Mullane the other day at KSC and had him autograph my copy of the book. Since I work on the shuttle for the last 2 years, I was curious to hear about the early days of the program. It was pretty good and insightful except for the toilet humor.

From the opening scene of him describing an enema, to the graphic detail of him using the toilet in space, and other crude things took away from the book. He took away all the dignity of his profession and self credibility and that's a shame.

It reminds me of the Buzz Aldrin autobiography. That was just about as bad and made me understand why NASA would never stand for him to be first man on the moon. Both guys have no class or discretion. If you are going to have your autobiography written, never never ask a newspaper journalist to help you. They will only help you remove all your self dignity and make the world wonder how you ever got to be chosen to fly in the space program.

Take out the toilet humor and it was an excellent book and personal history of the early shuttle program. He especially did great honor to Judy Resnick who passed away in the Challenger tragedy. The parts where he talked about his father was outstanding also from the heart breaking artificial legs story, to the laugh till you cried story of the fuel vapor explosion under the hood of the car. If not for the disgraceful toilet humor I would rate this book 5 stars, but because of the toilet humor I can only rate it 3 stars.

First. . .let's get this part over with: This book is NOT intended for children (I'd say less than 17 or so). With that being said. . .this is the best, most human, and most humane, book written regarding our space program. Astronaut Mike Mullane holds nothing back; it has taken grits, courage, and sometimes, stupidity, to write the things he's written: but you know it is the truth. Be it his opinion, fact, or wishful thinking, he is speaking from his heart. This is a first-hand account through the eyes of Astronaut Mike Mullane and, yes, he answers most of the questions you ever wanted to know about the shuttle missions, including the question of whether or not the crew, and passengers, (because there were "passengers") were alive when Challenger's cockpit hit the water. . .He tells us the stuff the press doesn't. In fact, he tells us, in so many words, the press is responsible for candy-coating the life, times, training, and danger of an astronaut. I, like so many wanna-bee's, am a space-geek; however, after reading this book, I no longer desire to be an astronaut. Let me rephrase that: I no longer desire to be an astronaut, passenger, or civilian--scientist or otherwise--aboard any spacecraft designed, built, and contracted to the "lowest bidder" that our space system, run by NASA, would put-out for launch. I think the phrase that struck me was Mr. Mullane's quote about how the speakers about the space shuttle were (and I'm paraphrasing) were less than Radio-Shack quality. Why, for God's sake, wouldn't private industry WANT to donate some of the work-force, technology, engineering to what is, without doubt, the most complicated space vehicle ever designed? He gives credit where credit seems due. . .criticisms are solely his own. . .nobody elses and he takes credit for them. It took alot of guts to put this book in print. . .and more guts to write it. Hats off. This book should win a Pulitzer. . .and the next mission(s) should be named after each, and every astronaut who has given their lives in the course of committing to the NASA astronaut program. This book should be required reading, for ANY applicant, to the astronaut program: whether it is true, accurate, or not. . .it doesn't matter. Mike Mullane, and the other astronauts have committed their lives and [...] sphincters to the pursue of space; Mr. Mullane goes one step further and commits his personal beliefs in writing. 5 Stars out of 5 Stars

Mr. Mike Mullane's biography, Riding Rockets, was a very entertaining read. I was thrilled to finally get a bio from one of NASA's class of 1978 astronauts, the "TFNGs" ("Thirty-five New Guys," in polite company) and first pure shuttle astronauts. These were the astronauts that brought the shuttle into the limelight with their amazing (and later, catastrophic) missions into the final frontier.

Mr. Mullane has a gift with the pen (or is it computer?) - his books, "Do your ears pop in space?" and "Riding Rockets" are excellent glimpses into the life of an astronaut, for children and adults respectively. I'll admit, that even as a space program enthusiast, I glossed over his name on shuttle manifests. His NASA bio seemed unimpressive as most other military members-turned-astronaut. Looking deeper (with his help, of course), I found a very impressive man. Not a stereotypical pilot, he was a GIB ("Guy-in-back") in Vietnam; he wasn't a "Type-A" shuttle pilot, but a "in-the-shadows" worker as a Mission Specialist. Even his missions weren't usual boring "NASA science" flights - 2 of his missions were classified military-related space flights.

If anything, read this because he was there with the NASA Class of 1978, through its "highs and lows" - the numerous firsts-in-space flight during the early 1980s and the catastrophic disasters to befall the shuttle program in the later years. His tales personally gave me new light and admiration for the TFNGs that didn't have schools or public parks named after them.

If there were a downside to this memoir, I would have to point out Mr. Mullane's raw sense of humor. I personally *LOVED IT*, but other space flight fans might find it offensive, compared to other "NASA-approved" astronaut biographies. If you're an "on-the-fence" reader, take the chance and ride into space through Mr. Mike Mullane's eyes. You won't be disappointed.

This book provides best evidence yet of why we should not have manned space flight. If what Mullane says is true, the "modern" astronauts" seem to care very little about the mission itself and are only in the game for very childish, selfish reasons. During most of the book, Mullane comes off as a pre-puberty teenager.

While one might quibble with some of the "facts" presented in the book, facts did not seem to get in his way. On example is his citation of Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" in a point in time prior to the book being publish. Wonder how he was able to do that?

It was entertaining, to be sure, and rather ruff and vulgar without redemption, seemingly just to be vulgar.