When Artemis II returned to earth last month, the astronauts on board broke the record for traveling farther away from earth than any person had gone before. Whose record did they break?
Jeff Williams.
Until April, Jeff had traveled farther and flown faster than just about anyone. He commanded International Space Station (ISS) Expeditions 22 and 48. He spent 534 days in space and 32 hours in a space suit outside the station, conducting spacewalks.
What was he doing out there?
Taking pictures.
One record that may never be broken is this: Jeff has taken more pictures from space than anyone else.
It was not an easy record to obtain. Jeff had to learn Russian, earn an engineering degree from West Point, and—oh yeah—become an astronaut.
A recent book chronicles his life and achievements. Zero Gravity, by Chris Anderson, tells the story of Jeff Williams and his 534 days in space.
The book traces his trajectory from Wisconsin to West Point to Cape Canaveral. Along the way, he met his wife, married her, nearly lost that marriage, and then—through an encounter with Christ—came to faith. That salvation rescued his marriage and ultimately launched him into space, from where, the book reminds us, one can see everything.
From that vantage point, the earth appears both massive and small. Massive in its scope—a single sphere suspended in darkness. Small in its details—people, problems, conflicts, all invisible to the naked eye. In a matter of minutes, the station passes over one continent and brings another into view.
It is a faint analogy, but a helpful one. This is something like how earth appears from heaven.
Generations come and go. The conflicts that dominate headlines—and our hearts—fade into obscurity. Nations rise and fall. Civilizations flourish and then are forgotten.
Zero Gravity brings that perspective into focus.
Chris Anderson met Jeff Williams at The Master’s Seminary, where the two became friends. Their shared theological convictions shape the book. It moves quickly—not as fast as the Space Station, but fast enough to keep readers engaged—especially younger readers who are drawn to the stars.
If you’ve read or watched Project Hail Mary, this book almost feels like a prequel. I read Zero Gravity afterward and, in my mind, cast Jeff as Ryan Gosling. In reality, he looks more like John MacArthur, who wrote the foreword.
Jeff Williams has seen the earth from 250 miles up. But the book’s real argument is that the most important vantage point isn’t orbital—it’s eternal.
Zero Gravity is ultimately about a man who learned to see his life, his marriage, and his work the way God sees them. That’s a perspective worth gaining, whether you ever leave the ground or not.
This is a book worth your time—and worth putting into the hands of a teenager or young adult who needs to see that faith and excellence are not in competition. Jeff Williams demonstrates that a man can fear God, love his wife, and pursue his work with extraordinary skill.
You can get a copy of it from Amazon at this link.
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