David Hitt

David Hitt is an American author and science writer specializing in spaceflight history. Born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1975, he graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Journalism before beginning his career in newspaper reporting. Hitt co-authored "Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story" (2008) with NASA astronauts Owen K. Garriott and Joseph Kerwin, providing a detailed history of the Skylab program. His second book, "Bold They Rise: The Space Shuttle Early Years, 1972-1986" was published in 2014 as part of the University of Nebraska Press's Outward Odyssey series. After working as a reporter and news editor for The Enterprise-Tocsin in Mississippi, Hitt joined NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in 2002 as part of their Educational Technology Services web team. His work has been reviewed in several prestigious publications, including Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine and the American Library Association's Booklist.

Readers consistently highlight Hitt's ability to blend technical details with human stories in his space history books. Many reviews note his accessible writing style makes complex spaceflight concepts understandable for general audiences. Liked: - Clear explanations of technical concepts - Integration of firsthand astronaut accounts - Thorough research and attention to detail - Balance between technical and personal narratives Disliked: - Some readers found "Homesteading Space" too focused on technical details - A few reviewers wanted more personal stories from the astronauts - Limited coverage of certain mission aspects Ratings: Goodreads: - "Homesteading Space" - 4.2/5 (89 ratings) - "Bold They Rise" - 4.1/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: - "Homesteading Space" - 4.7/5 (31 reviews) - "Bold They Rise" - 4.5/5 (17 reviews) One reviewer on Amazon noted: "Hitt brings Skylab to life through detailed accounts while keeping the narrative engaging for non-technical readers."

Bold They Rise: The Space Shuttle Early Years, 1972-1986 Chronicles the development and first years of the Space Shuttle program through firsthand accounts from NASA astronauts and personnel.

Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story Details the complete history of America's first space station through interviews and documentation, with particular focus on the experiences of the three crews who lived aboard Skylab.

Andrew Chaikin Chaikin wrote "A Man on the Moon," which provided comprehensive coverage of the Apollo program through astronaut interviews. His writing style and deep research into spaceflight history mirrors Hitt's approach to documenting space programs.

Michael Cassutt Cassutt co-authored "We Have Capture" about the history of docking in space and "Who's Who in Space" profiling astronauts and cosmonauts. His focus on technical spaceflight topics and biographical elements aligns with Hitt's historical documentation style.

Jay Gallentine Gallentine authored "Ambassadors from Earth" about robotic space exploration and "Infinity Beckoned" covering the Soviet space program. His work combines detailed research with personal accounts from program participants similar to Hitt's methodology.

Francis French French co-wrote "In the Shadow of the Moon" and "Into That Silent Sea" covering early spaceflight history. His books incorporate oral histories and first-hand accounts from astronauts comparable to Hitt's approach in "Homesteading Space."

Chris Gainor Gainor wrote "To a Distant Day" about early rocketry and "The Bomb and America's Missile Age" examining Cold War space development. His technical expertise and historical narrative style matches Hitt's focus on documenting space program evolution.