Mike Mullane by Riding Rockets

This text consists of selections from astronaut Mike Mullane’s memoir, Riding Rockets, chronicling his path from an adventurous upbringing to becoming a space shuttle mission specialist. Mullane offers a candid look at the intense training, the highly competitive “pecking order,” and the often crude “Arrested Development” culture prevalent among the military aviators of the Thirty-Five New Guys (TFNGs) class, detailing his personal struggles with the difficult astronaut selection process and the political atmosphere under the enigmatic chief of the astronaut office, George Abbey. He recounts the technical complexities and inherent dangers of flying the Space Shuttle, including detailed accounts of his first launch, the physical demands of training, and the difficult process of integrating the first female astronauts. The narrative is deeply affected by the tragic Challenger disaster, which brought home the terminal nature of their work and highlighted management failures related to safety protocols. Ultimately, the memoir reveals the enormous personal sacrifices involved, relying on the steadfast emotional and religious support of his wife, Donna, throughout his career.

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