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Spaceman

An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe

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Spaceman

By: Mike Massimino
Narrated by: Mike Massimino
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About this listen

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find yourself strapped to a giant rocket that's about to go from zero to 17,500 miles per hour? Or to look back on Earth from outer space and see the surprisingly precise line between day and night? Or to stand in front of the Hubble Space Telescope, wondering if the emergency repair you're about to make will inadvertently ruin humankind's chance to unlock the universe's secrets? Mike Massimino has been there, and in Spaceman he puts you inside the suit, with all the zip and buoyancy of life in microgravity.

Massimino's childhood space dreams were born the day Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Growing up in a working-class Long Island family, he catapulted himself to Columbia and then MIT, only to flunk his first doctoral exam and be rejected three times by NASA before making it through the final round of astronaut selection. Taking us through the surreal wonder and beauty of his first spacewalk, the tragedy of losing friends in the Columbia shuttle accident, and the development of his enduring love for the Hubble Telescope - which he and his fellow astronauts were tasked with saving on his final mission - Massimino has written an ode to never giving up and the power of teamwork to make anything possible. Spaceman invites us into a rare, wonderful world where science meets the most thrilling adventure, revealing just what having "the right stuff" really means.

©2016 Michael J. Massimino (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Aeronautics & Astronautics Physics Science & Technology Space Station Interstellar Space

Critic Reviews

"Drive, determination, and desire are the enduring qualities that are reflected throughout this audiobook, narrated by its author, former astronaut Mike Massimino… His joy is contagious, and his accomplishments are incredible. Everyone, not just science geeks, will enjoy this production. " ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Spaceman

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One of a kind

Brilliant story of perseverance and positive thinking. Inspirational. I loved that he did not just tell the positives. He also told the challenges and fears which made him human but told how he overcame them. One of my all time favourite books

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A tremendous listening experience!

The subject matter is absorbing and author's narration captivating. A thoroughly worthwhile listening experience, real entertainment.

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1 person found this helpful

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One of the best space man book I've listened to yet!

I feel what set the author's book apart from others is how he inspired others through his lead and never giving up. While most focus on the space experience this book makes me want to meet him myself (fingers crossed right). It also lead me to doing further research and wanting to know more about the history.

He also kept up a good pace when reading, would love to hear more of his work in the future. Loved this book from start to finish. Well done!

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Brilliant

Cheers for putting this together Mike. It's been great to listen to over the last couple of weeks.

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Must read for any NASA fan

lots of detail about the space program. some very powerfull moments with a lot of human element's all the way through.

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Rocket fueled Inspiration

Fantastic read, Mike takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions struggles triumphs and incredible human endeavour.

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Enjoyable autobiography

Great read! Engaged from start to finish. Mike writes with candour and plenty of humour. Perfect if you're looking for a book that reaches into the human side of being an astronaut.

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Wonderful man. Wonderful story.

Thoroughly enjoyed Spaceman. An exciting, inspiring, captivating story very well told. Great for young people and young-at-heart people.

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Space but through the eyes of an everyday hero

So this is an all American hero’s telling of an Amazing feat, but I’m not American so thank goodness he made it accessible! His reading brings you into the moment (& his head) with him, the awe of childhood wonder in the beginning of the space race, the trials and triumphs of making it into the Astronaut program to the wonders of space and the things it gave and took away. Plus that moment on the Hubble!
He’s one ordinary bloke, not the smartest guy (if he’s to be believed!) but as far as Hubble is concerned he is exactly The Right Stuff.

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