In an exclusive excerpt from Taylor Jenkins Reid's upcoming novel, astronaut Vanessa Ford prepares for her first spacewalk, amidst the pressure of constant surveillance from Mission Control. This narrative centers on her struggles with anxiety and the exceptional demands of being a part of NASA's space shuttle program alongside fictional astronaut Joan Goodwin. The emotional weight of being monitored closely affects Vanessa, complicating her experience in space, which symbolizes both a career milestone and a journey of personal growth.
But even well before the electrodes were placed on her body, Vanessa has been aware that someone on the ground is always watching. Mission Control knows everything that happens on the shuttle - every temperature, every coordinate, the status of every switch.
Knowing that everyone can see her heart rate - that they can see how her body reacts every time Houston speaks up - makes her feel like she has nowhere to hide.
Joan's voice carries a warmth that helps Vanessa confront her anxieties about the mission, providing a sense of connection despite the overwhelming scrutiny from Mission Control.
As Vanessa prepares to open the airlock hatch and step into space, it symbolizes not only a critical moment in her career but also a defining challenge of self-discovery.
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