They have orbited the Earth, floated in space, walked and driven dune buggies on the moon. They are people with a true sense of adventure, who are so fascinated with outer space that they have made careers out of exploring it. Even their title has a mysterious quality, for the word astronaut is derived from Greek words meaning "star sailor." This book examines the astronaut career, including what it takes to become an astronaut, several different types, and what an astronaut's job is really like.