From School Library Journal
Grade 10 Up-A revised and updated edition of a book published in 1987, this is the standard source of information about people who have gone into space, or trained to do so: over 600 astronauts, cosmonauts, X-15 and X-20 Dyna-Soar pilots, scientists, and payload specialists. Each man or woman receives a small black-and-white photo and a several-hundred to several-thousand word biographical entry; the information, current through August 1992, is compiled from (uncited) published or unpublished sources, and some of it, particularly from the Soviet space programs, has not been previously available. In pointing out certain less-than-glorious moments in the careers of his subjects, Cassutt reminds readers that space travel is a human endeavor, not the achievement of (as he puts it) "soulless drones." Entries are arranged alphabetically under 1 of 11 rubrics ("Civilian Shuttle Payload Specialists," etc.); the last, "International Space Travellers," is further subdivided by country. Flights, crews, and logs, as well as the names of Teacher-in-Space and Journalist-in-Space candidates, are charted in a series of appendixes. Though more appropriate for large adult reference collections, this deep resource will be a useful addition to any well-funded high school library.John Peters, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
To coincide with the inauguration of the International Space Station program, this third edition of Cassutts biographical reference contains 80 new entries and also updates the biographies of every U.S. astronaut, Russian cosmonaut, and international astronaut who has flown or trained for space missions. Additionally, several sidebars provide astronauts firsthand accounts of training for and actually flying space missions. As valuable as the biographical updates are (e.g., several Apollo astronauts, including two of the 12 moon walkers, have died since the first edition in 1987), several appendixes enhance the utility of this reference even more with data on all manned spaceflights up to 1998, time in space logged by every space traveler, a detailed listing of the planned Space Station assembly sequence, and a full-color insert depicting NASA mission crew patches dating back to the Gemini program. Although a bit pricey, this update is recommended for subject collections.Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll., GACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
With this comprehensive biographical dictionary, Cassutt succeeds in depicting the men and women from the U.S., the former Soviet Union, and other countries who participated in the space race as "fathers and mothers, people who had been high school and college students, who had worked as lathe operators or farmhands on their way to becoming scientists, engineers, and pilots."Biographies are grouped in 11 sections by nationality and space program. Each opens with an essay describing the program, followed by the alphabetically arranged biographies. These include birth date (and death date, where applicable), a short description of the astronaut's or cosmonaut's life, and, in most cases, a black-and-white photograph. In addition, Who's Who in Space includes an insert of photographs of NASA mission patches and groups shots of pioneers of the American and Soviet space programs.Appendixes include a list of manned spaceflights (showing the mission designation, launch data, crew, call sign, landing data, duration, and remarks); X-15 spaceflights; shuttle approach and landing tests; manned time-in-space log, 1961-92; world extravehicular-activity log, 1965-92; lists of U.S. and Soviet flight crews; and state-by-state teacher-in-space and journalist-in-space candidates. The detailed index of names also notes when one astronaut is mentioned in the biography of another or in the introductions. Within the body of the work are cross-references between programs; thus, Neil Armstrong, whose biography appears under "NASA Astronauts," has a listing under "X-15 Pilots" with a reference to the full-length biography.More than 75 flights have been made since this book's first edition (published with the subtitle, The First 25 Years, G. K. Hall, 1987), and the price of the book has more than doubled. However, high school, public, and academic libraries serving clients interested in the people exploring the final frontier will find this $75 well spent. Astronauts and Cosmonauts: Biographical and Statistical Data [RBB Je 15 90] was published by the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology in 1989. It provides similar information, though recent flights are not included.

From Book News, Inc.
Subtitled The International Space Year Edition this revised and enlarged (from Who's Who in Space: The First 25 Years [G.K. Hall & Co., 1987]) biographical reference profiles the people of every nationality who traveled in space from spring 1961 (Yuri Gagarin) to summer 1992, and hundreds of others who underwent training to prepare for space flight--a total of some 600 biographies. The reference deals with three major astronautic groups--US, Soviet, and international space travelers. Each set of biographies is preceded by an account of the technical and historic aspects of the specific program. Portrait photographs accompany most of the profiles. Eleven appendices provide additional related information. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this unique biographical reference, he profiles the people of every nationality who traveled in space from spring 1961 to summer 1992, and hundreds of others who underwent rigorous training to prepare for space flight--a total of over 600 biographies. No other source book is comparable in scope, detail, and ease of accessibility.

FROM THE CRITICS

BookList

With this comprehensive biographical dictionary, Cassutt succeeds in depicting the men and women from the U.S., the former Soviet Union, and other countries who participated in the space race as "fathers and mothers, people who had been high school and college students, who had worked as lathe operators or farmhands on their way to becoming scientists, engineers, and pilots. Biographies are grouped in 11 sections by nationality and space program. Each opens with an essay describing the program, followed by the alphabetically arranged biographies. These include birth date (and death date, where applicable), a short description of the astronaut's or cosmonaut's life, and, in most cases, a black-and-white photograph. In addition, "Who's Who in Space" includes an insert of photographs of NASA mission patches and groups shots of pioneers of the American and Soviet space programs Appendixes include a list of manned spaceflights (showing the mission designation, launch data, crew, call sign, landing data, duration, and remarks); "X-15" spaceflights; shuttle approach and landing tests; manned time-in-space log, 1961-92; world extravehicular-activity log, 1965-92; lists of U.S. and Soviet flight crews; and state-by-state teacher-in-space and journalist-in-space candidates. The detailed index of names also notes when one astronaut is mentioned in the biography of another or in the introductions. Within the body of the work are cross-references between programs; thus, Neil Armstrong, whose biography appears under "NASA Astronauts," has a listing under ""X-15" Pilots" with a reference to the full-length biography More than 75 flights have been made since this book's first edition (published with the subtitle, "The First 25 Years", G. K. Hall, 1987), and the price of the book has more than doubled. However, high school, public, and academic libraries serving clients interested in the people exploring the final frontier will find this $75 well spent. "Astronauts and Cosmonauts: Biographical and Statistical Data" ["RBB" Je 15 90] was published by the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology in 1989. It provides similar information, though recent flights are not included.

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