Before Lift-off: The Making of a Space Shuttle Crew

For eight days in October 1984, seven men and women orbitied the Earth on Space Shuttle Mission 41—G. The mission has begun a year earlier; however, with the select of its crew. Before Lift—off is the extraordinary day—to—day story of these astronauts' training and flight—and is as close as most of us will ever come to flying on the space shuttle.

New Yorker writer Henry Cooper obtained unprecede...