An Unlikely Astronaut

An Unlikely Astronaut tells the true story of how Astronaut Susan Kilrain overcame all obstacles to achieve her dream of flying in space after growing up in a time when, as a woman, it seemed nearly impossible. The youngest person and one of only three women to have ever piloted the space shuttle, her story of unwavering determination will encourage children to reach for the stars even if the odds are against them.

Readers can further engage with Susan’s journey using the book’s Click & See™ interactivity that enhances the reading experience with photos and videos from her life and career. Teachers will also appreciate the available free space-related activities and exercises that satisfy basic common core curriculum requirements in math, science, and English language arts.

Commander Susan Kilrain is a renowned astronaut, a distinguished navy test pilot and aerospace engineer, and a world traveler. She is the youngest person, and one of only three women, to pilot the space shuttle. She served twenty years in the navy paving the way for women. She has flown more than 3,000 flight hours in more than thirty different aircraft, and she was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Commander Kilrain flew as pilot of STS-83 and STS-94, spending a total of more than twenty days in space. Her first mission was cut short due to a potentially life-threatening shuttle system failure.

Becky Hardy is a self-taught artist who specializes in soft pastels and acrylics. Coming from a family of pilots and artists, her work is inspired by space exploration and the people behind the missions. Becky lives in Manchester in the UK, and when she’s not in her art studio or working as a tax adviser, she is usually walking her dog or doing voluntary work.