Ask an Astronaut

October 15, 2017

In this follow-up to his best seller Hello, Is This Planet Earth?, European Space Agency astronaut Peake describes what it's like to live in outer space. Returning after 186 days on the International Space Station, Peake was overwhelmed by the positive response he received from people wanting to learn more about his mission and what it takes to be an astronaut. In fact, the author received thousands of questions from the public through social media. He answers the best of these with a Q&A format, dividing the questions into six chapters based on theme. Ranging from thought provoking to whimsical, the questions include topics such as prelaunch training, space research, sleeping, eating and drinking, and going to the bathroom in space. Peake's responses are thorough and often humorous. He makes it clear throughout that the job of an astronaut requires an extraordinary amount of work but is ultimately rewarding. Moreover, he expresses a profound sense of awe and gratitude about his experiences. This guide is further supplemented with photographs, illustrations, and diagrams. VERDICT An informative read that is recommended for anyone interested in space travel.--Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

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