Marianne J. Dyson recounts for us a time when women were making the first inroads into space flight control, a previously male-dominated profession. The story begins with the inspiration of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon and follows the challenges of pursuing a science career as a woman in the 70s and 80s, when it was far from an easy path.

Dyson relates the first five space shuttle flights from the personal perspective of mission planning and operations in Houston at the Johnson Space Center, based almost exclusively on original sources such as journals and NASA weekly activity reports. The book's historical details about astronaut and flight controller training exemplify both the humorous and serious aspects of space operations up through the Challenger disaster, including the almost unknown fire in Mission Control during STS-5 that nearly caused an emergency entry of the shuttle.

From an insider with a unique perspective and credentials to match, this a must-read for anyone interested in the workings of NASA during one of its busiest and defining times, and the challenges faced by women pursuing scientific careers.

Autorentext
Marianne Dyson was inspired by Apollo to become one of the first women flight controllers for NASA during the early space shuttle program. She has an undergraduate degree in physics and enjoys sharing her passion for space at schools, museums and conferences. She has served as a technical reviewer for Scholastic, Enslow, National Geographic and Hampton Brown. Her children's books have won the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator's Golden Kite and the American Institute of Physics Science Writing awards and have been translated into multiple languages and excerpted for use in numerous state reading tests. A frequent contributor to Ad Astra, the magazine of the National Space Society, her science articles and science fiction stories for adults and children have appeared in national magazines and anthologies. She is currently coauthoring a children's book about Mars with Buzz Aldrin for National Geographic.

Inhalt
Preface: The Moon Landing, July 20, 1969.- Space Girl Grows Up.- Welcome to Houston.- NASA Employee.- Shuttle Procedures & Training.- STS-1 Timeliner.- Preparation for STS-2.- STS-2 Timeliner.- Preparation for STS-3.- Lead Timeliner STS-3.- Secret Preparations.- STS-4 Flight Activities Officer.- Welcome to Operations.- STS-5 Fire in Mission Control.- Family Planner.- New Mother.- Working Mother.- Aerospace Consultant.- The Challenger Disaster.- Space For Everyone.- Appendix A: First Women Flight Controllers.- Appendix B: First 25 Space Shuttle Flights.- Appendix C: As-Flown Timelines for STS-1, 2, 3, 4, 5.- Index of Names.