New Releases by Marianne Dyson

NASA''s flight control teams work diligently during every flight to safeguard spacecraft and their crews, but few people appreciate the significance of their contributions to the American Space Program. Shuttle Mission Control: Flight Controller Stories and Photos, 1981-1992, showcases twenty first-person accounts of Space Shuttle controllers solving problems from dangerous pressure readings to slippery satellites. The decisions made and actions taken by these unsung heroes, many recognized with the honor of hanging the mission patch, epitomize the motto of Mission Control, "Achievement through Excellence." Flight controller rosters and honorees plus an acronym list and index are included.

Marianne J. Dyson recounts for us a time when women were making the first inroads into space flight control, a previously male-dominated profession. The story begins with the inspiration of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon and follows the challenges of pursuing a science career as a woman in the 70s and 80s, when it was far from an easy path. Dyson relates the first five space shuttle flights from the personal perspective of mission planning and operations in Houston at the Johnson Space Center, based almost exclusively on original sources such as journals and NASA weekly activity reports. The book’s historical details about astronaut and flight controller training exemplify both the humorous and serious aspects of space operations up through the Challenger disaster, including the almost unknown fire in Mission Control during STS-5 that nearly caused an emergency entry of the shuttle. From an insider with a unique perspective and credentials to match, this a must-read for anyone interested in the workings of NASA during one of its busiest and defining times, and the challenges faced by women pursuing scientific careers.

Discover what life is like for astronauts in spaceu0097what they eat, how they sleep, how they work, and much more!

What is the Moon made of? Who has been to the Moon? Why does the Moon change shape? Discover the answers to these questions and more as you explore the Moon.

How far away is the Sun? What is the Sun made of? How big is the Sun? Why is it important to life on Earth? Discover the answers to these questions and more as you explore the Sun.

Why is Earth the only planet in the solar system that has life? Why are there four seasons? What causes the weather? Discover the answers to these questions and more as you explore Earth.

What is a star? Why are stars different colors? What is a constellation? Who studies the stars? Discover the answers to all these questions and more as you explore the stars.

What is a solar system? How many planets are there in our solar system? How many moons? What lies beyond our solar system? Discover the answers to all these questions and more as you explore the solar system.

What would it be like to live on Mars? Find out in The Callahan Kids: Tales of Life on Mars, an anthology for middle-school readers created by science fiction writers and a team of engineers at 4Frontiers Corporation. The stories take place at Bradbury Base, a realistic Mars settlement that is full of surprises for the first kids growing up there. The nine original tales in the book are beautifully illustrated by Michael Carroll whose artwork has flown in space. Contributors include Hugo-winning author Ben Bova, young adult authors Jim Denney and Rebecca Rowe, artist Phil Smith, former NASA flight controller Marianne Dyson, space scientist Brian Enke, and aerospace engineer Tom Hill. Proceeds will support educational projects to promote the human settlement of the space frontier (by the kids who read this book!).