Astronaut: 1961 onwards (all roles and nationalities) (Owners' Workshop Manual) Hardcover – 1 Feb. 2017

This is an informative and comprehensive book, covering the past, present and future of its subject in some detail.The main chapters, after a brief one on space fiction and movies, cover roles and missions, selection, training, the spacecraft, entering space, space life, walking in space, and – importantly - getting back!The organisation of chapters and their sections is good, making it easy to ‘dip into’. I also liked the occasional separate panels on topics relevant to the current chapter but which if in-line would interrupt the main text flow. These sometimes involved subjects I’d never thought of e.g. astronaut pre-flight superstitions; the ‘astronauts that weren’t’; and where does space actually ‘start’?The book is necessarily a mix of narrative and technical explanations, but the latter should not be beyond the average reader (whoever that is). If you’ve read the Haynes ‘Saturn 5’ manual, then ‘Astronaut‘ is pitched at a decidedly lower technical level, making it a rather easier read. Having said that, I’ve followed space travel for years, am reasonably technically-minded, and yet found many things I didn’t know and photographs I’d never seen before - I wouldn’t have guessed I’d see a photo of Soyuz being towed for launch by what appears to be a steam train! Btw, the quality of the photographs, visualisations and diagrams is generally excellent.I’m not a teacher, but I reckon there’s plenty here to stimulate questions or further enquiries by an interested reader or a school pupil studying science, engineering or biology. Some other things I liked: The content wasn’t too biased towards the U.S. There is a lot of information and photographs relating to Russian and Chinese equipment and training. For example, the chapter on ‘Getting into Space’ uses the Russian Soyuz as a case study (perhaps because it’s now the only way of getting people to the International Space Station). Also, the book is bang up to date, including as it does a survey of the latest privately-initiated (though sometimes NASA-funded) ventures into space travel, some of which are still on the drawing board.The final chapter covers another topic that perhaps we don’t think about so much: ‘Life after Space’. What do astronauts do when they ‘retire’ and how have their experiences affected them?All in all, Astronaut is a book for my collection, or for gifting to my grandchildren. For reading straight through, or occasional sampling, I recommend it wholeheartedly to any actual or aspiring space buff, or simply anyone interested in the amazing technologies, people and achievements that have characterised the Space Age.

Bought this for my grandson who loves all things to do with space. Very good book, lots of information, my grandson loved it!

Very good book, excellent present.

This is a fine companion to Haynes growing manuals to spaceflight especially in relation to books on Apollo 11, 13, Luanr Rover,Soyuz, International Space Station & Space Shuttle.It packs a lot in 187 pages and does it well. This book fills in gap in understanding what makes an astronaut.For all the details, which I think enhance the book beyond those who interested in space, this Haynes manual captures the spirit of humankind seeking to spread wings on this new ocean with all its perils and rewards.I recommend this book for anyone wanting to lift mind above the atmosphere whether being novice on all matters of heavens or already a space buff.

Usual lavish Haynes production and very good as always, however I was somewhat put off by the author's belief that Homer's 'Odyssey' was about Jason and the Argonauts! A minor mistake perhaps but its always worrying to find such errors especially when they appear in the first few pages. Apart from that its a good book.

All you need to know about the early space race , those brave young men in their explosive machines , great read .

Excellent Addition to the Space Exploration theme. Apollo 11 - Moon -lunar Module- Saturn V and Mars Mission. TitlesAs stated by other reviewers on the series there’s a few slight errors in identification in photo text but not to worry .. some superb subjects covered..And ..having strategically placed them in and around the home I’ve achieved notable success in killing off the ‘ Love Island ‘ brain dead generation that have entered my living space attempting to enter into a meaningful conversation about such delinquent TV excrement.Astute class Nuclear Submarines - German Infantryman 1939-45 and English Electric Class 50 seems to do the trick :-) Thank you Haynes couldn’t do it better myself without having an argument ,showing them the door and turfing them out. Obviously they’re a good read and sit well with the motor mechanics manuals . Highly Recommend