THE NEW GUYS The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel

January LaVoy's engaging performance enlivens this history of NASA's space shuttle program and its diverse 1978 astronaut class, dubbed "The New Guys" (TNGs). Among them were numerous firsts, including the first American woman (Sally Ride) and the first African American (Guion Bluford) to go to space. TNGs' personal lives and professional contributions are interwoven with the development of the shuttle program and its missions. Getting to know them through LaVoy's emotionally attuned narration, alongside the heady excitement of the new frontier in space exploration, makes the loss of team members in the tragic CHALLENGER (1986) and COLUMBIA (2003) shuttle explosions feel painfully fresh. Her assured performance is grounding during these difficult chapters. This production will be a welcome experience for general listeners and space aficionados alike. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]