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Author Topic:   My Countdown (Lena De Winne)
cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 09-17-2010 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My Countdown
by Lena De Winne
The author is the only wife of a European astronaut so far who has worked in the area of human spaceflight. This makes the perspective of her story unique. Lena understands the ins and outs of the system and lived through it as an intense personal experience.

The crew and the other two spouses of her husband's ISS mission have supported the book and have provided information about their experience which is included in this book. My Countdown is written during the flight itself. It reads like a novel but it is a vivid account of true events told while they were happening. It is emotionally consuming it contains popular information about space science and technology the reader will come out of reading this book with a good overview of the current human spaceflight program it is inspirational in a sense that all the characters are real self-made people. My Countdown will encourage the reader to pursue their own dreams.

This is the first ever book written by the wife of an ISS astronaut. It is different from many astronaut biographies because it is written by the actual participant and not by a ghost-writer; and because it tells a story of both the crew and the spouses in one combined story.

  • Paperback: 172 pages
  • Publisher: Apogee Prime (October 1, 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 1926837096
  • ISBN-13: 978-1926837093

eurospace
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Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 10-06-2010 01:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The book is out now, says Lena Clark De Winne's site on Facebook.

jvertrees
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Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 10-07-2010 04:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jvertrees   Click Here to Email jvertrees     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Richard Godwin of cgpublishing says there will a book launch event in NYC at the end of October.

Does anyone have any details on the event?

carl walker
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Posts: 360
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 10-15-2010 04:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for carl walker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just had a note from Lena on her book signings.
Wednesday October 27, 2010
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Presentation and Book signing
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1K 4R3

Wednesday November 3, 2010
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Presentation (tbc) and Book signing
Space Traders Gift Shop
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, Texas 77058
Ottawa is Lena only, Frank and Bob Thirsk may also be at the Houston event.

The New York event is invitation-only am afraid as organised by Flanders House (Belgian government organisation), and already fully booked.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-25-2010 07:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Canadian Press: New book looks at unique trials and tribulations of astronaut spouses
Imagine being barred from giving your own mother one last hug when she's travelled thousands of kilometres to say goodbye as you leave for outer space for six months.

That's what happened to Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk in May 2009, moments before he prepared to blast off into space aboard a Russian spacecraft.

The incident is just one of many emotional moments recounted in "My Countdown", a new book written by Lena De Winne - wife of the European astronaut Frank De Winne, who flew with Thirsk.

Lena De Winne said she wrote her book to show the human side of space flight...

disglobes
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Posts: 594
From: Orting, WA
Registered: May 2000

posted 10-26-2010 02:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for disglobes   Click Here to Email disglobes     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anyone going to the Lena DeWinne booksigning on November 3rd in Houston? I am looking for someone who could get a signed copy for me.

issman1
Member

Posts: 1042
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 10-28-2010 11:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for issman1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was a bit taken aback by this paragraph in the Canadian Press story:

...one example of Russian officials mentality. They also considered it bad luck to have any wives near a rocket before their husbands blasted off into space.

"A year ago, people in command (were) seriously telling me: 'Do you
want your husband to die at the launch?... Don't you understand the female presence causes accidents?'," she (Lena De Winne) said.

Even the head of Roscosmos, Anatoly Perminov, publicly suggested the presence of female American astronaut Peggy Whitson and her South Korean counterpart, So-yeon Yi, may have played a part in Soyuz TMA-11's ballistic re-entry in 2008.

Perhaps this "superstitious" attitude also explains why no Russian woman has ever flown aboard ISS?

jvertrees
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Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 11-01-2010 04:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jvertrees   Click Here to Email jvertrees     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just ordered a signed book over the telephone with the Houston Gift Shop.

1-800-746-7724 gets you to the Spacetraders gift shop where the signing will be held.

My cost is $29.95 for the book, full cover price, typical at signings and $8.50 for shipping.

jvertrees
Member

Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 11-10-2010 11:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jvertrees   Click Here to Email jvertrees     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just received my copy in yesterday’s mail. It is signed by Lena only. She added a very nice inscription without a personalization.

I look forward to reading the book, it sounds like a good story from a different perspective than most astronaut biographies.

Perhaps a future appearance will allow an opportunity to add Frank De Winne.

spaceman
Member

Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 01-29-2011 02:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman   Click Here to Email spaceman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
We attended an event at Flanders House in London last night with both Lena and Frank De Winne present. Lena gave us an insight into Frank’s mission from the viewpoint of a very supportive earthbound partner. Stills and video from ISS Expeditions 20-21 were shown with a narration by Lena.

A chance to win a prize by answering some space trivia questions proved entertaining. This was followed by a book signing. I had received a copy of the book as a Christmas present and found it both interesting and enjoyable and was able to get it personally signed. We all then retired into an adjacent room for a drinks reception. Frank and Lena circulated and were able to offer answers to space and non space questions. If you haven't obtained a copy of the book yet, please do. A worthy cause, UNICEF, is being supported by its sale; it is a great book to add to your space literature collection.

BMckay
Member

Posts: 3218
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 01-13-2012 09:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BMckay   Click Here to Email BMckay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just finished the book. I would highly recommend it. I liked her style, her message and the way the book way laid out.

I have been to a launch and have watched what the spouses go through and it agree a lot with what she says.

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