35 min

75: The Wonders of Space and Writing Books with Bruce McCandless III Good People, Cool Things

    • Books

Bruce McCandless III has never been to space, but you’ve certainly seen his dad gazing at the earth before. Bruce McCandless II began his career with NASA in 1966 and he was Houston’s capsule communicator (CAPCOM) speaking directly with astronauts during the first moonwalk on Apollo 11. And in 1984, McCandless II soared into history during the Challenger mission, becoming the first astronaut to make an untethered free flight. And yes, you’ve certainly seen the picture of this moment.


That picture is also the cover of Bruce McCandless III’s new book, Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space. As the title suggests, it’s an intimate look at not just his dad’s story but the growth of the space industry itself.


It’s a delightfully fascinating read, but it’s hardly Bruce’s first foray into writing. And lucky for us, he’s giving an inside look into his other books, from his inspiration to how he was able to write them despite having a full-time job as a lawyer — you know, a really simple profession that doesn’t take up several hours of your day. It’s truly remarkable.

Bruce McCandless III has never been to space, but you’ve certainly seen his dad gazing at the earth before. Bruce McCandless II began his career with NASA in 1966 and he was Houston’s capsule communicator (CAPCOM) speaking directly with astronauts during the first moonwalk on Apollo 11. And in 1984, McCandless II soared into history during the Challenger mission, becoming the first astronaut to make an untethered free flight. And yes, you’ve certainly seen the picture of this moment.


That picture is also the cover of Bruce McCandless III’s new book, Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space. As the title suggests, it’s an intimate look at not just his dad’s story but the growth of the space industry itself.


It’s a delightfully fascinating read, but it’s hardly Bruce’s first foray into writing. And lucky for us, he’s giving an inside look into his other books, from his inspiration to how he was able to write them despite having a full-time job as a lawyer — you know, a really simple profession that doesn’t take up several hours of your day. It’s truly remarkable.

35 min