Hitting the Books: NASA's Class 8 broke color barriers and glass ceilings alike

America's first astronauts from the 1960s were all pulled from the highest ranks of the nation's military. As such, NASA's first few classes tended to conform to a rather specific demographic theme — white, male, flattop haircut you could set a watch too. By the mid-70's however, the space agency had gotten with the times and opened up the spacewalking profession to more than former Air Force and Navy test pilots. In The New Guys, author Meredith Bagby follows the exploits of NASA's Astronaut class of 1978 — "Class 8," America's first women, African Americans, Asian American, and gay person to fly to space — from the team's selection through their mastering of cutting-edge technologies aboard the Space Shuttle and their history-making orbital missions. In the excerpt below, Class 8 receives a brutal introduction to the dangers that await them. Harper Collins PublishingFrom The New Guys by Meredith Bagby. Copyright © 2023 by Meredith Bagby. Reprinted courtesy of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.Johnson Space Center, Houston. July 1978“Hey! We’ve got a fire in the cockpit!” a man screamed, then his voice cut out. Within seconds, another desperate voice cut through the static.“We’ve got a bad fire . . . !” the second man shouted in pain.“We’re burning up . . . !!!” a third howled.Then the transmission faded into nothing but static.In one of the many tiered seats in Mission Control, Ron McNair and his new classmates listened to a recording of the Apollo... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-02-12 15:30:30 UTC ]
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Whitfield wins Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award for 'compelling' debut

Debut author Clare Whitfield has been awarded the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2021 for People of Abandoned Character (Head of Zeus), a fresh take on the Jack the Ripper story. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-01 19:46:40 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: A look at the 1920s airship that nearly made it to the North Pole

During the Roaring '20s just about everybody was convinced that dirigibles were not just the future of luxury travel but that these lumbering airships could also serve as platforms for scientific exploration and adventure. Why slog through malaria-infested jungles, parched deserts and frozen... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-18 15:30:21 UTC ]
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Religion Book Deals: September 8, 2021

New deals include a title on home design done with Jesus in mind, one for children to learn that God conquers fear better than tigers, and a critical look at the dangers of white nationalism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: What exactly did Jodi Foster hear in 'Contact'?

Art may imitate life but it rarely does so with realistic fidelity. As Naomi Pequette, Space Science Programs Specialist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, argues in her essay "The Sounds of Contact" as part of The Science if Sci-Fi Cinema: Essays on the Art and Principles of Ten Films,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-04 15:30:43 UTC ]
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Booksellers Hit the Books

A newly launched professional bookseller certification program aims to boost indie bookselling skills. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Kishōtenketsu: What It Is and 8 Books That Use It

A guide to kishōtenketsu, the classic East Asian four-part narrative structure, with examples in popular media and a reading list to explore. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-08-25 10:33:00 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: How Tesla engineers solved the problem of exploding EV batteries

Between CEO Elon Musk's often erratic antics, strident competition from existing industry titans, and a public that is still not fully sold on the idea of traveling via electrical charge, Tesla's road to prominence has not been a smooth one. But facing a federal investigation into its driver... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-21 15:00:52 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: How a radio telescope cost this West Virginia town its modernity

Deep in the heart of Appalachia, modern science and America's bucolic past meet at a unique crossroad of scientific discovery and luddite lifestyles. The Quiet Zone, by journalist Stephen Kurczy, is the story of a sleepy small town that hosts the Green Bank radio telescope. But the presence of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-14 15:30:30 UTC ]
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8 Books That Illuminate the Hidden Histories of Hollywood

Hollywood. It’s one of those locations—it’s hard, somehow, to call it a concrete place—that conjures up all sorts of archetypes: the ruined writer, egomaniacal director, sleazy executive, out-of-control star. In writing my memoir Always Crashing in The Same Car—a book with elements of criticism,... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-08-11 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Goldsboro Books’ ‘Glass Bell Award’ Announces Its 2021 Shortlist

Six shortlisted books include four debuts in this year's Goldsboro Books program, with a winner coming in late September. The post Goldsboro Books’ ‘Glass Bell Award’ Announces Its 2021 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-05 14:50:09 UTC ]
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Print Book Sales Could Grow by 2% This Year—Or by 8%

In a presentation on July 21, NPD BookScan said that, based on current trends, unit sales of print books are likely to finish 2021 with a gain over 2020. How high that gain will be depends on several factors, including the future course of the pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-censorship hits Hong Kong book fair in wake of national security law

Far fewer politically sensitive titles are on display in the first such event since Beijing imposed sweeping new regulations Booksellers at Hong Kong’s annual book fair are offering a reduced selection of books deemed politically sensitive, as they try to avoid violating a sweeping national... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-07-15 10:57:25 UTC ]
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Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding

An emergency fund has been opened to get quick aid to West London's Saqi Books, a publisher and bookstore reporting severe flood damage. The post Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-07-13 19:52:32 UTC ]
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Books in the Media: Kellaway goes straight to top of the class

This week, it was Lucy Kellaway's memoir Re-educated (Ebury) that caught the critics' attention, picking up mentions in the Observer, the Times, the Telegraph, the Daily Mail and The Bookseller. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-05 06:34:13 UTC ]
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8 of the Best Online Book Subscriptions

Check out the best online book subscriptions, for readers who want books delivered straight to their door, and readers who just want recommendations! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-06-30 10:35:00 UTC ]
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Ten Speed, Chef Bryant Terry Launch 4 Color Books

Random House's Ten Speed Press imprint has established a new imprint, 4 Color Books, with Bryant Terry, the NAACP Image Award and James Beard Award–winning chef and educator. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Books That Made Me: 8 Writers on Their Literary Inspirations

In decades past, the Book Review occasionally asked young authors about their biggest influences. For our 125th anniversary, we put the question to a new generation. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-04-15 18:35:31 UTC ]
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Want a best-selling book or hit movie? You need this 1 key ingredient, says research

Blockbuster projects share one common trait. Do you dream of opening that blockbuster restaurant, writing a New York Times best-selling book, or releasing a chart-topping album? A new study out of Northwestern University suggests a pivotal ingredient.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-04-09 16:21:42 UTC ]
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8 of the Best Nonfiction Books About Girls Around the World

If you’re looking for nonfiction about girls around the world, check out these books, including Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, Hyung-Ju Ko. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-30 10:37:00 UTC ]
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