Unofficially they called themselves the TFNG, or the Thirty-Five New Guys. Officially, they were NASAs Group 8 astronauts, selected in January 1978 to train for orbital missions aboard the Space Shuttle. Prior to this time only pilots or scientists trained as pilots had been assigned to fly on Americas spacecraft, but with the advent of the innovative winged spacecraft the door was finally opened to non-pilots, including women and minorities. In all, 15 of those selected were categorised as Pilot Astronauts, while the other 20 would train under the new designation of Mission Specialist. Altogether, the Group 8 astronauts would be launched on a total of 103 space missions; some flying only once, while others flew into orbit as many as five times. Sadly, four of their number would perish in the Challenger tragedy in January 1986.
In their latest collaborative effort, the authors bring to life the amazing story behind the selection of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts, examining their varied backgrounds and many accomplishments in a fresh and accessible way through deep research and revealing interviews. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASAs human spaceflight exploration, twice halted through tragedy, the Shuttle fleet performed with magnificence. So too did these 35 men and women, swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing development of Americas Space Shuttle program.
"This book on the Group 8 Astronauts, the TFNGs, is an excellent summation of the individuals first selected for the new Space Shuttle Program. It provides insight into what it took to first get the Space Shuttle flying. For any space enthusiast it is a must read."
- Robert L. Crippen PLT on STS-1
As a reader, I had many moments where long, lost memories of the triumph and tragedy of the space shuttle program were brilliantly reawakened at the turn of a page. Loved it! This is a must-have book for every space enthusiasts library.
- TFNG Mission Specialist Astronaut Richard Mike Mullane, author ofRiding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut
Many of the anecdotes in the book brought back memories of challenges, opportunities, and a team of men and women who were committed not just to the space program, but to one another...I've gone back to it several times as a reference source.
- TFNG Steve Hawley, 5-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Astronaut
"The TFNG book is incredible and amazingly thorough! The detail in the book is awesome! It is my go-to book for any of the details Ive forgotten."
- TFNG Dr. Rhea Seddon, 3-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Astronaut.
"I can't believe how detailed and complete it is!!! FANTASTIC work!!!"
- TFNG Robert L."Hoot" Gibson, 5-time Space Shuttle Pilot& Commander and former Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office
David Shayler has been writing books for Springer-Praxis for over 18 years, with a total of 25 authored or coauthored titles for the series. These have ranged from various aspects of American and Russian manned spaceflight history and operations to topics on women in space, the human exploration of Mars and the development of EVA techniques and operations. He has a passion for recording the lives and careers of the worlds space explorers. He has been a member of the British Interplanetary Society for over 40 years and currently is a serving Council Member. He also organized and hosted the annual Sino-Chinese Technical Forum and is currently organizing two extra Forums for next year on the topic of Space Rescue and Safety and 20 years of ISS Operations. Dave is a guest editor of the annual BISJBIS Space Chronicle issue on Sino and Chinese Technical Forums and has contributed to a number of BIS Publications. His work has been published in the UK inSpaceflight, andSpaceflight News, and in the United States under MacmillansWhos Who in Spacetrilogy as well as theMagill Science Survey and the MPressSecrets of the Universe Card Collection. A number of his titles and published articles have been referenced in other books, journals and official NASA publications.
Colin Burgesss early books were on the Australian prisoner-of-war experience, before he turned his efforts to writing about his principal interest: human space exploration. Colin has written a number of books on the subject for the University of Nebraska Press and Springer-Praxis. The books he has written or coauthored for Springer-Praxis are NASAs Scientist-Astronauts, Animals in Space, The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team, Selecting the Mercury Seven, Moon Bound, Freedom 7, Liberty Bell 7 Friendship 7 and Aurora 7. More recently, he has written about the Interkosmos program and a history of NASAs Group 5 and 7 astronauts with coauthor David Shayler.
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