📖 Overview
Mike Mullane is a former NASA astronaut who flew three Space Shuttle missions between 1984 and 1990. He served as a Mission Specialist on STS-41-D, STS-27, and STS-36, logging over 356 hours in space.
After retiring from NASA in 1990, Mullane became an author and public speaker, writing several books about his experiences as an astronaut. His most notable work is "Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut," a memoir that provides candid insights into the astronaut corps and NASA culture during the Space Shuttle era.
Mullane's military background includes graduating from West Point and serving as an Air Force Weapons Systems Operator, completing 134 combat missions in Vietnam. He achieved the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force before retiring from military service.
Prior to his selection as an astronaut in 1978, Mullane earned a Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. His technical expertise and military experience made him part of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Mike Mullane's raw honesty and humor in describing the astronaut experience, particularly in "Riding Rockets." Many reviews highlight his direct writing style and willingness to discuss both achievements and personal struggles during his NASA career.
What readers liked:
- Detailed technical information balanced with personal stories
- Candid discussions of fear and competition among astronauts
- Humor throughout his accounts
- Clear explanations of complex space operations
What readers disliked:
- Some found his frank discussion of gender issues in NASA controversial
- A few readers noted occasional repetition in storytelling
- Some wanted more technical details about specific missions
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (500+ ratings)
Sample reader comment: "Mullane strips away the sanitized public image of astronauts and shows the human side of spaceflight - competitive, scary, and extraordinary." - Amazon reviewer
Key criticism: "Sometimes too focused on personal grievances rather than space operations." - Goodreads reviewer
📚 Books by Mike Mullane
Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut (2006)
A memoir detailing Mullane's NASA career, life in the astronaut corps, and experiences during his three Space Shuttle missions, including both technical aspects and personal challenges of spaceflight.
Red Sky: A Novel of Love, Space, and War (1993) A fictional story set against the backdrop of the Cold War, following an astronaut and a pilot as they navigate both professional duties and personal relationships.
Do Your Ears Pop in Space? (1997) A non-fiction book addressing common questions about spaceflight and life as an astronaut, based on Mullane's personal experiences in the Space Shuttle program.
Liftoff! An Astronaut's Dream (1995) A children's book explaining the journey of becoming an astronaut and describing what it's like to fly in space, drawn from Mullane's own career path and missions.
Red Sky: A Novel of Love, Space, and War (1993) A fictional story set against the backdrop of the Cold War, following an astronaut and a pilot as they navigate both professional duties and personal relationships.
Do Your Ears Pop in Space? (1997) A non-fiction book addressing common questions about spaceflight and life as an astronaut, based on Mullane's personal experiences in the Space Shuttle program.
Liftoff! An Astronaut's Dream (1995) A children's book explaining the journey of becoming an astronaut and describing what it's like to fly in space, drawn from Mullane's own career path and missions.
👥 Similar authors
Chris Hadfield flew missions on both Space Shuttle and Soyuz, commanding the International Space Station and writing about his experiences from a technical and personal perspective. His books cover similar territory to Mullane's work, discussing astronaut life and space operations with a focus on authentic details.
Tom Wolfe wrote "The Right Stuff" about the Mercury program astronauts and test pilots of the 1950s-60s. His narrative style captures the culture and mindset of military aviators transitioning to spaceflight, similar to Mullane's background.
Gene Kranz served as NASA flight director during Gemini and Apollo, writing about mission control operations and leadership during critical space missions. His memoir "Failure Is Not an Option" provides an inside view of NASA operations from the ground perspective during the same era Mullane trained as an astronaut.
Jim Lovell commanded Apollo 13 and wrote about his experiences in "Lost Moon," which became the basis for the film Apollo 13. His first-person account of spaceflight emergencies and NASA operations shares Mullane's focus on the technical and human aspects of space missions.
Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 Command Module and wrote "Carrying the Fire," describing astronaut training and spaceflight operations. His writing style combines technical accuracy with personal observations about the space program, matching Mullane's approach to sharing his experiences.
Tom Wolfe wrote "The Right Stuff" about the Mercury program astronauts and test pilots of the 1950s-60s. His narrative style captures the culture and mindset of military aviators transitioning to spaceflight, similar to Mullane's background.
Gene Kranz served as NASA flight director during Gemini and Apollo, writing about mission control operations and leadership during critical space missions. His memoir "Failure Is Not an Option" provides an inside view of NASA operations from the ground perspective during the same era Mullane trained as an astronaut.
Jim Lovell commanded Apollo 13 and wrote about his experiences in "Lost Moon," which became the basis for the film Apollo 13. His first-person account of spaceflight emergencies and NASA operations shares Mullane's focus on the technical and human aspects of space missions.
Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 Command Module and wrote "Carrying the Fire," describing astronaut training and spaceflight operations. His writing style combines technical accuracy with personal observations about the space program, matching Mullane's approach to sharing his experiences.