Spacewalker: My Journey in Space and Faith as Nasa's Record-Setting Frequent Flyer

320 Pages·2013·7.45 MB·English

by  Norberg, John;Ross, Jerry L.;Ross, Jerry Lynn

“SPACEWALKER is the book for anyone who ever dreamed of flying in space.”
— NEIL ARMSTRONG
MY JOURNEY IN SPACE AND FAITH AS
NASA’S RECORD-SETTING FREQUENT FLYER
JERRY L. ROSS
BY
WITH JOHN NORBERG
SPACEWALKER
“As an astronaut for over three decades, one who participated in some
of the most challenging and exciting Shuttle missions, Jerry Ross knows
Spacewalker
spaceflight. In , he details the exultation of actually being
in space and brings to life the realities of preparing for and executing
Spacewalker
one of the most difficult of all human endeavors. is the
book for anyone who ever dreamed of flying in space.”
–Neil Armstrong, Commander of Apollo 11
(June 2012)
“I have known Jerry Ross for many years, as an astronaut, a friend, and
as a fellow alumnus of Purdue University. We’ve had many opportuni-
ties to share our experiences and our dreams for space exploration. We
share a passion for inspiring young people. This is the story of one man’s
lifelong quest to explore the unknown, overcome setbacks and obstacles,
and keep the beacon of space shining in the hearts of all people, young
and old. This book is about an American Dream.”
–Eugene Cernan, NASA Gemini and Apollo astronaut;
The Last Man on the Moon
co-author of
“Seven times in space, a first and a record matched by only one other. As
Flight Director I sweated out the gut-wrenching final seconds on
launch day many times. In the seconds before launch I said a prayer
for my team, and then at the instant the rocket was freed of its earthly
shackles I briefly prayed for our crew. Most astronauts of my day would
fly but two or three missions, but Jerry Ross faced the fire and the risks
of launch day repeatedly. This book is the story of a common man from
the Midwest who became an American hero . . . a model for the youth
of our nation and for those who will accept the challenge to follow in
his footsteps.”
–Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director for Gemini and Apollo,
Failure Is Not an Option
including Apollo 11 and 13; author of
“As a NASA training manager, I knew Jerry Ross as one of the steadiest
and smartest astronauts in the agency. He was also one of the nicest!
No matter who you were or what your job was, Jerry always took the
time to express his appreciation for the work you were doing. Frankly,
considering the pressures we were always under, I wondered what made
Jerry so nice. Now that I’ve read his memoir, I know! Jerry Ross is the
genuine article, a man of humble roots who decided to be the best he
could be while never forgetting the lessons of honesty, integrity, and
family he learned along the way. Great memoirs have to strike a bal-
ance between history, circumstance, purpose, and passion. By this or any
Spacewalker
standard, is a great memoir. Jerry tells his story straight
from the heart, and it is a magnificent tale of courage and faith. If you
Rocket Boys October Sky
liked / , you’re going to love this book!”
Rocket Boys/October Sky Crater
–Homer Hickam, author of and
“This book is a must-read! Astronaut Jerry Ross has seen our Space
Shuttle program from start to finish, and more. No other person has
experienced the depth and breadth of the Space Shuttle intrigue as
Jerry has. You will be inspired by the story of a young man chasing his
dream . . . and achieving it many times over. You will be taken inside the
private side of astronauts’ lives, as they train and fly their intense and
risky missions. You will learn and remember the greatness of America’s
Space Shuttle program. This story has all of it: the humor, the tragedy,
the family view, the technical side, as well as Jerry’s personal perspec-
tive of our country’s great Space Shuttle program. There is no other
book like this; it is a gem!”
–Eileen Collins, first woman to pilot and command
US space missions
SPACEWALKER
SPACEWALKER
MY JOURNEY IN SPACE AND FAITH AS
NASA’S RECORD-SETTING FREQUENT FLYER
BY JERRY L. ROSS
WITH JOHN NORBERG
WITH A FOREWORD BY EUGENE CERNAN
Purdue University Press West Lafayette, Indiana
Copyright 2013 Jerry L. Ross. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
Ross, Jerry Lynn, 1948-
Spacewalker : my journey in space and faith as NASA’s record-setting frequent
flyer / Jerry L. Ross with John Norberg.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-55753-631-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-61249-232-2
(epdf) -- ISBN 978-1-61249-233-9 (epub) 1. Ross, Jerry Lynn, 1948- 2.
Astronauts--United States--Biography. 3. Outer space--Exploration--United
States. I. Norberg, John. II. Title. III. Title: My journey in space and faith as
NASA’s record-setting frequent flyer.
TL789.85.R67R67 2013
629.450092--dc23
[B]
2012029105
Cover image courtesy of NASA.
ith all of my love to Karen, our children
W
Amy and Scott, our daughter-in-law
Faith, and our beautiful granddaughters Cassidy,
Katie, and Emily. May we all walk each day in
God’s grace.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
F O R E W O R D xi
Eugene A. Cernan
P R O L O G U E xv
Jim Gentleman
O N E 1
Sputnik, a mouse, and blackberry pie
T W O 29
“Look to your left and look to your right”
T H R E E 51
“My daddy is an astronaut . . .”