Off the Planet: Surviving Five Perilous Months Aboard the Space Station Mir

The word "Surviving" should probably be underlined in the title of this first-hand account by an American astro/cosmonaut of his experiences aboard Mir. There is precious little science in this book, but a great deal about living at the mercy of technology and Russian bureaucracy. Even though the reader knows that the author does ultimately survive, there is nevertheless suspense that builds up during Jerry Linenger's telling of his story. One cannot help but wonder at the sanity (or the naivety) of the several Americans who succeeded him on Mir. His description of the adaptation to life with gravity should give considerable pause to those anxious to send people to Mars.

A first hand account of a space disaster that almost brought destroyed the Mir space station. Jerry Linnenger's account of his time aboard the Mir space station is very compelling. We learn just how bad the fire was and just how close they came to aborting the mission.

Jerry Linenger was a U.S. astronaut stationed on the decrepit and deteriorating Russian space station Mir. This book exposes the corruption in the Russian space program and the fact that the crew wasn't a priority. Reading about space travel and life on Mir was cool.

I just couldn't get into it. I enjoyed the first chapter, but then it just seemed like he was bragging on himself. Granted he has reason to brag, but it took too long to get through his credentials and I like things to be in a story format.

I just couldn't get into it. I enjoyed the first chapter, but then it just seemed like he was bragging on himself. Granted he has reason to brag, but it took too long to get through his credentials and I like things to be in a story format.