Space Drift

Author: Jerry M. Linenger
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-03-01
Features: On January 12, 1997, Jerry M. Linenger boarded the Space Shuttle Atlantis to meet the Russian "Mir" space station for a historic encounter. As one of the few formal companions of Russian cosmonauts, he was selected to stay on the "Mir" for five months, participating in the initial cooperative work for the foundation of the International Space Station. Atlantis flew toward the azure sky of Florida, and Linenger's emotions were extremely excited. Finally, the moment had arrived—this was the culmination of years of meticulous planning, selfless dedication, and rigorous training, including a two-year disciplined life at the isolated cosmonaut training base in Russia. However, when he finally boarded the "Mir," his first orbit around this dark, near-collapse, and incredibly crowded space station reminded him of the "six interconnected modules" space station. Linenger knew he would face a difficult journey. But he wasn't quite sure how difficult it would be, or how many times he and his Russian companions would come close to death over the next 132 days. Lost in Space tells a chilling story of survival in the vast and terrifying universe, ing that mission that led to misfortune. After Apollo 13, no mission had encountered so many near-fatal disasters. But the former lasted only a few days, those breath-holding days, while the "Mir" mission lasted five months—132 days of non-stop peril and, pushing the crew's creativity, endurance, and courage to their limits. Linenger uses first-person perspective to dramatically narrate the tense moment when the crew helplessly watched the uncontrollable Progress supply ship, like an unmanned cargo ship, crash into them at a speed of 18,000 miles per hour. Unforgettable is his account of the crew's harrowing encounter with the terrifying cosmic disaster—the nightmare-like fire. Three-foot-high flames that could melt metal left the crew unable to see or breathe, while also blocking their path to the Soyuz lifeboat. Linenger uses first-person perspective to dramatically narrate the crew's heroic struggle day after day to maintain life and fulfill their mission, while simultaneously facing paralyzed ship equipment, bureaucratic arrogance on the ground, and political machinations. Lost in Space is a complete and unreserved description of a dangerous mission in the history of space exploration, telling an unforgettable story of humanity confronting extreme danger with its own limits—where humanity's spirit ultimately prevails.