Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery

Scott Kelly

Oct 2017 · Sold by Vintage

About this ebook

NATIONAL BEST SELLER

A stunning, personal memoir from the astronaut and modern-day hero who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station—a message of hope for the future that will inspire for generations to come.

The veteran of four spaceflights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few have. Now, he takes us inside a sphere utterly hostile to human life. He describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both life-threatening and mundane: the devastating effects on the body; the isolation from everyone he loves and the comforts of Earth; the catastrophic risks of colliding with space junk; and the still more haunting threat of being unable to help should tragedy strike at home--an agonizing situation Kelly faced when, on a previous mission, his twin brother's wife, American Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while he still had two months in space.

     Kelly's humanity, compassion, humor, and determination resonate throughout, as he recalls his rough-and-tumble New Jersey childhood and the youthful inspiration that sparked his astounding career, and as he makes clear his belief that Mars will be the next, ultimately challenging, step in spaceflight.

     In Endurance, we see the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the infinite wonder of the galaxy.

Ratings and reviews

I found Endurance to be a pleasant read. I was really interested in Scott's on going health and physical condition after a 330 day stay in space. unfortunately only the first chapter gets into his physical condition and the rest is biographical, it was interesting learning about the shuttle.

I actually bought an autographed hardback copy for my husband for Christmas. I got a chance to read it before he did and I couldn't put it down! Scott Kelly's detail of a life as an astronaut is nothing short of incredible and really fueled my interest in space travel! I recommend this book to everyone, even those who aren't intrigued by space. You will not be disappointed!

This stunning memoir is a must-read, and that's coming from someone who rarely reads nonfiction! Endurance is split between chapters detailing his year on the International Space Station and a broader view of his life journey up to the launch of that mission. I appreciated the focus on his "year in space" mission; having that take up half the book allowed him to share both the broad mission goals and their impact for the future of space exploration as well as the more lighthearted aspects of his time in space - pranks on crewmates, stories of family dinners with the cosmonauts, and the arrival of a gorilla suit in space. His early life history is equally fascinating and inspiring; the story of how he was a low-performing student even through his first year of college proves that it's never too late to chase a dream, even one as ambitious as going into space. There's enough technical detail in Endurance to satisfy space and tech nerds, but it's described in lay terms that will make this a winner for anyone. Full of heart and humor, Endurance will make you want to reach for the stars!

About the author

SCOTT KELLY is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired U.S. Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, Kelly commanded the International Space Station (ISS) on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission to the ISS. During the Year in Space mission, he set records for the total accumulated number of days spent in space and for the single longest space mission by an American astronaut. He lives in Houston, Texas.