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The ‘almost’ astronauts

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The Last of NASA's Original Pilot Astronauts

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Abstract

Those fifteen words aptly sum up the disappointment of failing to achieve a long-held ambition. Yet, perhaps with hindsight, there can be some satisfaction in at least trying to attain that goal rather than not even attempting to reach it. It is a lesson that can be applied in many fields of human endeavor, and as words of wisdom to younger generations.

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”

Spoken in 1912 by Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States (1901-1909), after losing the 1912 Presidential Election.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronautical Historian, Astro Info Service Ltd, Halesowen, West Midlands, UK

    David J. Shayler F.B.I.S

  2. Bangor, New South Wales, Australia

    Colin Burgess

Authors
  1. David J. Shayler F.B.I.S
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  2. Colin Burgess
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Shayler, D.J., Burgess, C. (2017). The ‘almost’ astronauts. In: The Last of NASA's Original Pilot Astronauts . Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51014-9_3

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