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For a novel on the first women astronauts, Taylor Jenkins Reid studied old NASA PDFs
Posted
June 17, 2025
Views
599
Likes
10
Engagement
1.67%
June 17, 2025
599
10
1.67%
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10:54Now PlayingJoan Goodwin, an astronomer who has been in love with the stars since childhood, learns one day in 1980 that NASA is seeking the first women astronauts to join its space shuttle program. Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel Atmosphere follows Joan as she becomes one of those astronauts, navigating new challenges, disaster, and a secret romance along the way. In today's episode, Reid speaks with NPR's Debbie Elliott about her research process for the novel, which included visiting the Johnson Space Center, conversations with a former NASA employee, and a lot PDFs. They also discuss the early days of NASA's shuttle program and the way the agency had to adjust to women joining the astronaut corps.
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