Roger D. Launius

I was 5 years old when this technological and cultural icon made its maiden flight back in 1981, and for about 30 years, it was the defining entity whenever I thought about space exploration. Six years ago, when I became a father for the first time, and Space Shuttle was about to land for the final time, and I remember watching its path via the incredible Google Earth software, second by second, with my baby boy not yet aware of a huge legacy. This book constitutes a major achievement to show more help curious minds become aware of this legacy.

It is very challenging to document every aspect and dimension of such a major project that spanned three decades and involved so many people and combination of complex systems. It is fair to say the authors have overcome these challenges within their page limits.

From its political history, to its combustion systems, from its thermal protection systems to its flight hardware and software, from its effects on astronauts selection to its cultural percussions, the book offers full perspective on what it meant to propose, design, build, and operate this great and complicated system. For me, the software chapter alone was worth reading the book, and its careful attention to engineering details for its combustion systems, engines, as well as thermal systems were a joy to read.

Authors of chapters are either directly involved with Space Shuttle, or were first-hand witnesses of the whole story throughout the years, and maybe that's why the book manages to be much more than a dry account of an engineering feat. The enthusiasm, as well as the criticism shines through almost every page.

It is of course not possible to remember the Space Shuttle with the tragic accidents, and these are also analyzed at great length in the book. Seeing how people reacted to the accidents, as well as what kind of analyses were done, in addition to the events preceding those tragedies make for an invaluable reading for generations to come.

If you are into space flight and exploration history, or someone curious about how one of the biggest and most complex engineering projects happened successfully, in terms of mechanical engineering, software engineering, political intricacies, management science and sociological percussions, you are guaranteed to enjoy this volume. show less

I thought this would be a book about the ISS and maybe Mir, something to skim and discard. I was pleasantly surprised by its scope, beginning with an early appearance of a "brick moon" space station in mid-19th century science fiction and placing the concept of space stations firmly in the context of early rocketry and space flight. This book has earned a place with the rest of the space-related books on our shelf.

I'd be interested in reading a 15-years-later update.

This NASA publication tells the story of the development of technologies and procedures to allow the safe return from space of people and other things, but mostly people. It is a technical history, no formulas or math, but lots of tech talk. As a retired space shuttle engineer I found it very interesting, but I suspect that there is a limited audience for such a book.

Physical copies are available from the usual sources, but it also available for free in e-book format from the NASA website.

A comprehensive look at the history of NASA’s Apollo program and its irrevocable impact on American society. As he considers the many perceptions of the moon landings . . . celebrated, criticized, denied . . . the author examines them in the light of key moments in the space race.

Carefully-researched, examining both the origins and the accomplishments of the Apollo program, the book highlights previously untold stories and insights of the program in the light of the Cold War as it offers show more a historical perspective on mankind’s steps away from planet Earth.

Highly recommended. show less