Women spacefarers : sixty different paths to space

Title:

Author:

Cavallaro, Umberto, author.

ISBN:

9783319340470

Personal Author:

Cavallaro, Umberto, author.

Physical Description:

xxxi, 403 pages : color illustrations ; 25 cm

General Note:

Source of cataloging data: WCP

Abstract:

This book tells the fascinating stories of the valiant women who broke down barriers to join the space program. Beginning with the orbital flight of USSR cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, they became players in the greatest adventure of our time. The author contextualizes their accomplishments in light of the political and cultural climate, from the Cold War in the background to the changing status of women in society at large during the Seventies. The book includes the biographies of, and in some cases interviews with, the sixty women who flew in space in the first half century of space history. It reports their achievements and some little known details. The result is a gallery of pioneering women who reached for the stars: women who, with exceptional skill, hard work, and dedication, reached impressive careers as accomplished pilots, researchers, and engineers; many are now in high level managerial positions both at NASA or in public and private organizations, and all left a legacy of strength.

Contents:

Acronyms; Contents; Foreword; Preface; Women in Space: A Soviet Record; Right Stuff but Wrong Sex; Mercury-13; FLATs (Fellow Lady Astronaut Trainees); Every Country Has Its Own Astronauts; NASA Opens to Women; The Long Road to Integration in the East; Full Integration in the West; "Female Quotas" Are Rising; Women, Space, and Philately; 1: Valentina Tereshkova: The Icon of Soviet Female Emancipation; References; 2: Svetlana Savitskaya: Twice in Space-The Second Soviet First; References; 3: Sally Ride: America's Pioneering Woman in Space; References.

4: Judith Resnik: The Second "Shuttlenaut"References; 5: Christa McAuliffe: "NASA Teacher in Space"; References; 6: Kathryn D. Sullivan: The First American Spacewalker; References; 7: Anna Lee Fisher: The First Mother in Space; References; 8: Margaret Rhea Seddon: The First Wedding Among NASA Astronauts; References; 9: Shannon Lucid: The First American Woman to Participate in a Long-Duration Mission; References; 10: Bonnie J. Dunbar: The First Female Astrocosmonaut in History; References; 11: Mary L. Cleave: Flying at Age 14; References; 12: Ellen Baker: An Internist Physician on the Shuttle.

13: Kathryn Thornton: The "Space Walker Mom": References; 14: Marsha Ivins: Aspiring Astronaut at 19; References; 15: Linda M. Godwin: Physics and Astronomy; References; 16: Helen Sharman: The First Briton in Space; References; 17: Tamara Jernigan: An Astrophysicist Out Among the Stars; References; 18: Millie Hughes-Fulford: The First Female Payload Specialist; References; 19: Roberta Bondar: The Pioneer of Space-Medicine Research; References; 20: Nancy Jan Davis: Growing Up with the Saturn Rockets; References; 21: Mae Jemison: Our Limits are the Stars; References;

22: Susan J. Helms: Three-Star GeneralReferences; 23: Ellen Ochoa: "Reach for the Stars and Let Nothing Limit Your Potential!"; References; 24: Janice Voss: Visits the International Space Station as a Cygnus Craft; References; 25: Nancy Currie-Gregg: A Passion for Flying and Concern for Safety; References; 26: Chiaki Mukai: The First Japanese Astronaut; References; 27: Elena Kondakova: The First Woman to Take Part in a Long-Duration Space Mission; References; 28: Eileen Collins: The First Woman "Shuttlenaut" in the Driver's Seat; References.

29: Wendy Lawrence: The First Woman Astronaut of the US NavyReferences; 30: Mary E. Weber: From Skydiving to Stellar Strategies; References; 31: Cady Coleman: The Colonel Playing the Flute in Space; References; 32: Claudie Haigneré: The First European Space Agency Female Astronaut; References; 33: Susan Still Kilrain: The Second Woman to Ever Pilot the Shuttle; References; 34: Kalpana Chawla: The Regret of Not Officially Visiting Her Native Country; References; 35: Kathryn Hire: The First American Woman Assigned to a Combat Aircrew; References.

Subject Term:

Women astronauts -- Biography.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Sugar Grove - Todd Library	Book	TL789.85 .A1 C38 2017	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

The book includes the biographies of, and in some cases interviews with, the sixty women who flew in space in the first half century of space history. It reports their achievements and some little known details. The result is a gallery of pioneering women who reached for the stars: women who, with exceptional skill, hard work, and dedication, reached impressive careers as accomplished pilots, researchers, and engineers; many are now in high level managerial positions both at NASA or in public and private organizations, and all left a legacy of strength.

Reviews (1)

Choice Review

Since the dawn of the space age, about 550 people have flown in space on American, Russian, and Chinese spacecraft. Of this group, 60 women have served as astronauts. The author commences the work with an introduction that mentions "Mercury 13," the 1960s NASA program for female astronauts. Most of the book consists of short chapters on female spacefarers, along with several photographs. The text highlights topics such as the first females in space, the various challenges of the first group of female astronauts, and the inherent sexism in the early days of NASA and in other international space programs. Interestingly, the book also documents how both the American and Russian space programs had females from other countries fly on their vehicles. In addition, the work details how NASA has had three female pilots and numerous female mission specialists, and the fact that the International Space Station recently had a female commander, Peggy Whitson. This work serves as a strong examination of females' evolving roles during the eras of space exploration. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --John Z. Kiss, UNC-Greensboro