Hello,
I had an e-mail exchange with Mike (he replied less than 24 hours later).

Raoul,

Thanks so much for the nice comment about RR. I'm glad you enjoyed the
story. Also, thanks for pointing out the orbit inclination error. I've
sent a correction to my editor for future editions of the book.
Good luck!

Sincerely, Mike

Author of "Riding Rockets, The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle
Astronaut." Reviewed in the New York Times and on the Jon Stewart Daily
Show. Now in book stores.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Mike,
Just to tell you how much I enjoyed your book "Riding Rockets"!!
In the book, I learned the STS 27 crew knew before the landing how damaged
the tiles were. CNN had not revealed this until after the landing
(had there been a problem, this would have been known even for a DOD flight, I
believe).

On page 300 you write "62 degrees to the equator, the highest
inclined orbit ever flown by humans".
Hmmm, have you checked the Vostok 1 to 6 orbit inclinations? (the right column)
Vostok 1
Vostok 2
Vostok 3
Vostok 4
Vostok 5
Vostok 6

I've added classical music to space videos and indeed Pachelbel's
Canon is a must. You also enjoyed (page 336) Bach, Vangelis, Albinioni .
Which one
from Bach? (I'm listening now to Air from suite nr 3 or was it
Jesus Joy of Man's desiring?).
One air I find particularly fitting is Elizabethan Serenade while
the black and white (IR?) video shows storms with a succession of lightnings.
Thank you for sharing your experience and for your inspiration!

Raoul Lannoy