The Fall ’08 issue of American Heritage magazine features eight great survival stories. One is my article on the Apollo 13 near-disaster, focusing on the skills that enabled Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise and his crew to survive a crippling oxygen tank explosion and execute a harrowing four-day return from deep space. I interviewed Haise via phone at his home in suburban Houston. He not only survived Apollo 13, but two years later, after sustaining severe burns in an air crash, returned to flying status and in 1977 piloted the shuttle Enterprise to its first test landing. Today, NASA and the nation need leaders and explorers like Haise, Lovell, and Swigert. See my website for an excerpt of the article. The issue is on newstands now.

Welcome to my Flight Notes. I’m former NASA astronaut Tom Jones (www.AstronautTomJones.com). Check here for my latest thoughts on our greatest adventure, the human exploration of the cosmos. Thanks for visiting, and leave a comment or say Hello.