You know your girl is an astronaut wannabe. I have been thwarted by height which is a limitation to travel as an official astronaut. But now with Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX expanding the ability for average folks to get to space, my hopes have been raised again!
Samantha Cristoforetti gives us the story of the immense hardwork it takes to be prepared for a space mission, the unbearable waiting and fierce competition to be selected. I’ve read a lot of astronaut biographies, as you can see, but this one has such immersive detail. I have often said I’m not sure if height hadn’t excluded me if I could have had the discipline required to pass muster, and Samantha’s journey is impressive. I am sure that I would not have had a chance to be selected next to candidates as robust as she.
Half of the book outlines the many year journey of intense training at various space centers around the world, learning mechanical parts, Russian language and culture, team building and endless what-if simulations. After that, Samantha finally reaches the Space Station. The amount of details provided is over and above what I have read in any other astronaut’s memoirs and it’s really empowering to hear how a woman dealt with these challenges and became a leader in the field. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to The Experiment for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Are you prioritizing any non-fiction for non-fiction November?
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