Unlike other American astronauts, Virgil I. ""Gus""Grissom never had the chance to publish his memoirs. Killed along with his crewin a launch pad fire on January 27, 1967, Grissom also lost his chance to walkon the moon and return to describe his journey. Others went in his place. Thestories of the moon walkers are familiar. Less appreciated are Grissom'scontributions. The international prestige of winning the Moon Race cannotbe understated, and Grissom played a pivotal and enduring role in securing thatlegacy for the United States. Indeed, Grissom was first and foremost a ColdWarrior, a member of the first group of Mercury astronauts whose goal it was tobeat the Soviet Union into space and eventually to the moon. Drawing on extensive interviews with fellow astronauts, NASA engineers, family members, and friends of Gus Grissom, George Leopold deliversa comprehensive and corrective account of Grissom's life that places his careerin the context of the Cold War and the history of human spaceflight. Calculated Risk: TheSupersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom adds significantly to ourunderstanding of that tumultuous and ultimately triumphant period in American history.
George Leopold is a veteran journalist and science writer focused on the nexus between technology and policy. Leopold has written extensively about US manned spaceflight, including the Apollo and space shuttle programs. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the New Scientist, and a variety of other science and technology publications. He resides in Reston, Virginia.
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Pure Oxygen 1. 1926 2. Work 3. Purdue 4. Wingman 5. Test Pilot 6. Mercury Seven 7. Extracurricular Activities 8. The Flight of Liberty Bell 7 9. Down a Peg 10. Apogee 11. Risk and Reward 12. How Astronauts Talk 13. Front of the Line 14. Death at 218 Feet 15. Abandon in Place Notes Bibliography Index
On July 21, 1961, in the middle of a family vacation, my parents stopped to let me watch Gus Grissom's historic fifteen-minute mission in Liberty Bell 7, the second manned Project Mercury flight. At thirteen, I was already very excited about space exploration. I could only imagine that someday I might follow in the footsteps of my hero who was born at the opposite end of the state from my northern Indiana home. Gus Grissom came from a rural, hardworking background just like me, and my later path mirrored his as I earned mechanical engineering degrees from Purdue University and went on to fly with the US Air Force and then NASA. We both pursued bold dreams. Through grit and determination, Grissom rose from the pastoral Midwest to achieve those dreams, his life ending tragically while Gus was still in his prime. George Leopold's well-researched and inspiring biography of Grissom details an imperfect man willing to risk his life for a chance to explore the unknown. This book is a must-read for every space enthusiast.
