The New Guys

The New Guys chronicles NASA's 1978 astronaut class - the first to include women and minorities. The group, known as "Thirty-Five New Guys" or TFNG, marked a transformation in the space program's culture and requirements. Author Meredith Bagby follows these astronauts from their selection through their training and missions in the early Space Shuttle era. The narrative focuses on their experiences adapting to NASA's environment while navigating professional challenges and personal relationships. Through extensive research and interviews, the book documents the technical aspects of astronaut preparation alongside the social dynamics of this watershed period at NASA. The text incorporates historical context about the space program and American society in the 1970s. The book examines themes of institutional change, diversity in the workplace, and the human cost of space exploration. These parallel stories reveal how individual determination and systemic transformation can occur simultaneously within an organization.

Readers describe The New Guys as a compelling account of NASA's 2004 astronaut class, with strong focus on personal stories and the shift from Shuttle to post-Columbia era. What readers liked: - Detailed research and interviews - Human perspective on astronaut life/training - Clear explanation of NASA's transition period - Balance between technical details and accessibility - Strong portraits of individual astronauts What readers disliked: - Some found early chapters slow - Too much background on each astronaut - Not enough focus on space missions - Timeline jumps can be confusing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (164 ratings) Sample review quotes: "Reads like a novel while delivering solid journalism" - Amazon reviewer "Great insight into modern astronaut training" - Goodreads user "Could have used tighter editing in biographical sections" - Goodreads user "Perfect mix of human interest and space program history" - Amazon reviewer

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🚀 All 44 members of NASA's 2013 astronaut class were children of the Space Shuttle era, witnessing Challenger and Columbia disasters during their formative years. 🎓 The 2013 class was one of the most educated in NASA's history, with many members holding multiple advanced degrees from prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. 👩‍🚀 From over 6,000 qualified applicants, NASA selected a class that included the highest percentage of women (four out of eight) in the agency's history at that time. 📝 Author Meredith Bagby spent five years following and interviewing the astronaut candidates, gaining unprecedented access to their training and personal lives at NASA. 🌎 The book captures a pivotal moment in space exploration, as NASA transitions from government-led missions to partnerships with commercial spaceflight companies like SpaceX and Boeing.