One of the most elusive and controversial figures in NASA’s history, George W. S. Abbey was said to be secretive, despotic, a Space Age Machiavelli. Yet Abbey had more influence on human spaceflight than almost anyone in history. His story has never been told—until now. The Astronaut Maker takes readers inside NASA to learn the real story of how Abbey rose to power, from young pilot and wannabe astronaut to engineer, bureaucrat, and finally director of the Johnson Space Center. During a thirty-seven-year career, mostly out of the spotlight, he oversaw the selection of every astronaut class from 1978 to 1987, deciding who got to fly and when. He was with the Apollo 1 astronauts the night before the fatal fire in January 1967. He was in mission control the night of the Apollo 13 accident and organized the recovery effort. Abbey also led NASA’s recruitment of women and minorities as space shuttle astronauts and was responsible for hiring Sally Ride. The Astronaut Maker is the ultimate insider’s account of ambition and power politics at NASA.

THEIR FIRST CHALLENGE IS TO SURVIVE When an unidentified object is spotted hurtling towards Earth, two rival teams race to claim it. But the affectionately-named Keanu conceals astonishing and dangerous secrets. Instead of barren rock, astronauts discover a giant ship with an extra-terrestrial crew. A ship that had headed to Earth with a mission and a message: Help Us. A brave new frontier beckons, but we are about to learn that it comes with a price. Without warning or explanation, small groups of humans are transported from the competing scientific communities of Houston and Bangalore to the vast interior habitats of Keanu. Their first task is to stay alive. Their second, to explore the potential of their strange new home and locate their keepers. But most significantly of all, as the ship starts to break down around them, they must figure out why they were brought here and forge a path home. PRAISE FOR THE SERIES 'Recalls Arthur C. Clarke at his heights ...Better still, there's more to come!' Gregory Benford 'Goyer and Cassutt offer a compelling yarn about first contact in the near future' David Brin 'A compulsive read...Goyer and Cassutt know their craft well' SciFiNow 'Full of unexpected twists and turns that lead to a thrilling conclusion' Booklist