Mission: An American Congressman's Voyage in Space by Bill Nelson, Jamie Buckingham

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Library Journal

Representative Nelson, who flew as an observer on the Shuttle mission prior to the Challenger disaster, provides both an interesting and irritating account of his experience. As the last civilian likely to fly on the Shuttle, his lay perspective on what it's like to fly in earth's orbit is engaging. However, his repeated ``there but for the grace of God, go I'' allusions to the Challenger disaster soon become grating. The second half of the book details Nelson's views on the space program's future, its economic and political benefits, and his recommendations to regain U.S. pre-eminence in space flight. This is not an essential purchase, but the Shuttle's return to flight status late this year may create demand for it. Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll. Lib., Ga.