Space Survival

An epic memoir from a man whose life is defined by exploration and innovation, The Sky Below re-creates some of the most unforgettable adventures of our time. From dramatic, high-risk spacewalks to author Scott Parazynski's death-defying quest to summit Mount Everest - his body ravaged by a career in space - listeners will experience the life of an elite athlete, physician, and explorer.

As command module pilot of Apollo 17, the last crewed flight to the moon, Ron Evans combined precision flying and painstaking geological observation with moments of delight and enthusiasm. As a patriotic American in charge of command module America, Evans was nicknamed “Captain America” by his fellow crew members.

What's it like to travel at more than 850 MPH, riding in a supersonic T-38 twin turbojet engine airplane? What happens when the space station toilet breaks? How do astronauts "take out the trash" on a spacewalk, tightly encapsulated in a space suit with just a few layers of fabric and Kevlar between them and the unforgiving vacuum of outer space?

Bolormaa's vast and powerful armies have overrun Earth and cut a bloody swathe across every continent. All hope is lost. Most of Mitch Taylor's comrades are dead or captured, and all he has left is the determination to keep on killing - to slaughter as many of his enemies as possible before the overwhelming hordes engulf him. To his astonishment, he discovers he may not be alone.

Lucas Adebayo grew up on a small mining ship in the asteroid belt but wants to join the Navy and become the best pilot in the galaxy. The Navy has never accepted a Belter cadet before, but Lucas’ skills secure him a place on the training ship, the Orpheus. Life in the Navy couldn’t be more different than life in the Belt, and Lucas struggles to find his place. As a Belter, he’s an outsider among his peers; as a Navy cadet, he doesn’t quite fit in at home anymore, either.

Michael Prasad knows he shouldn’t go out on the Mars surface alone. It’s dangerous. His parents have forbidden it. And the anxiety he feels almost every time he puts on a spacesuit makes it nearly impossible for him to leave the safety of the colony. But when his best friend, Lilith, suggests they sneak out one night, he can’t resist the chance to prove everyone - including himself - wrong.

When Space Force Commander Wallon Jaros decides that New Earth and the terrorist group, Ingenius Souls, are no longer worth the hassle, he destroys the planet. Mad with power, the future of the solar system is at great risk. With no one left to turn to, the fearless team of Jago Maxx and Ace Skipper are called into action in their ship, Dauntless. They will have to overcome personal loss and tragedy if they are take Jaros down.