Unofficially they called themselves the TFNG or the Thirty-Five New Guys. Officially they
were NASA's Group 8 astronauts selected in January 1978 to train for orbital missions aboard
the Space Shuttle. Prior to this time only pilots or scientists trained as pilots had been
assigned to fly on America's spacecraft but with the advent of the innovative winged
spacecraft the door was finally opened to non-pilots including women and minorities. In all
15 of those selected were categorised as Pilot Astronauts while the other 20 would train under
the new designation of Mission Specialist. Altogether the Group 8 astronauts would be launched
on a total of 103 space missions some flying only once while others flew into orbit as many
as five times. Sadly four of their number would perish in the Challenger tragedy in January
1986. In their latest collaborative effort the authors bring to life the amazing story behind
the selection of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts examining their varied
backgrounds and many accomplishments in a fresh and accessible way through deep research and
revealing interviews. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASA's
human spaceflight exploration twice halted through tragedy the Shuttle fleet performed with
magnificence. So too did these 35 men and women swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing
development of America's Space Shuttle program. This book on the Group 8 Astronauts the TFNGs
is an excellent summation of the individuals first selected for the new Space Shuttle Program.
It provides insight into what it took to first get the Space Shuttle flying. For any space
enthusiast it is a must read. - Robert L. Crippen PLT on STS-1 As a reader I had many moments
where long lost memories of the triumph and tragedy of the space shuttle program were
brilliantly reawakened at the turn of a page. Loved it! This is a must-have book for every
space enthusiast's library. - TFNG Mission Specialist Astronaut Richard 'Mike' Mullane author
of Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut Many of the anecdotes in
the book brought back memories of challenges opportunities and a team of men and women who
were committed not just to the space program but to one another...I've gone back to it several
times as a reference source. - TFNG Steve Hawley 5-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist
Astronaut The TFNG book is incredible and amazingly thorough! The detail in the book is
awesome! It is my go-to book for any of the details I've forgotten. - TFNG Dr. Rhea Seddon
3-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Astronaut. I can't believe how detailed and complete it
is!!! FANTASTIC work!!! - TFNG Robert L.Hoot Gibson 5-time Space Shuttle Pilot & Commander and
former Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office
