The Space Shuttle Program

How NASA Lost Its Way

By: R. Michael Gordon

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Paperback | 12 August 2008

At a Glance

Paperback
356 Pages

Age
18+

Dimensions(cm)
25.4 x 17.78 x 1.88

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This critical study of NASA''s space shuttle program provides an in-depth examination of the events, decisions, and policies that may have contributed to the horrific destruction of the shuttles Challenger and Columbia. It first traces the early development of NASA''s shuttle program, specifically examining the problems associated with the designs of shuttles OV-099 (which was to become Challenger) and OV-102 (which was to become Columbia).

The reader is then taken through a detailed look at the first successful flights made by Challenger and Columbia and the cancellation of top-secret Shuttle flight 51-C (which would have launched under nearly identical weather conditions as the ill-fated Challenger). An in-depth assessment of the shuttles'' disastrous final launches follows, including detailed accounts of the post-flight search and rescue operations, the official investigations into each accident, and the impact of each disaster on the future of NASA''s manned space program.

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"an in-depth examination"-Spaceflight.

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Engineering & Technology Transport Technology & Trades Aerospace & Aviation Technology Other Technologies & Applied Sciences Space Science Astronautics Technology in General History of Engineering & Technology Transportation Aircraft & Aviation History

Introduction	p. 1
Problems in Development
In the Beginning	p. 5
A History of Success? The Solids	p. 39
Countdown to Disaster
51-C: Too Cold for the Military	p. 55
1985 Was Not a Good Year	p. 68
Pre-Flight: Dangers Not Seen	p. 84
Challenger's Final Mission
A Cold Morning Like No Other	p. 93
The Final Ascent: The Flight of Challenger	p. 106
Post-Flight Operations	p. 129
Investigations and Recovery
The Challenger Investigation	p. 153
Unanswered Questions: Beyond the Commission	p. 171
Recovery for Flight? STS-26	p. 179
From Challenger to Columbia
Beyond the Recovery: Was It Really Fixed?	p. 199
The Fall of Space Shuttle Columbia	p. 210
On the Road Again	p. 236
The Future of Manned Spaceflight
A Look to the Future	p. 247
Shuttle Flights Pre-Challenger Disaster	p. 253
The Flights of Columbia	p. 263
The Mission and Crew of Challenger 51-L	p. 267
The Crew of Columbia STS-107	p. 278
Personal Observations on the Reliability of the Shuttle by Dr. Richard P. Feynman	p. 280
The Columbia Emails: Opportunities Missed	p. 288
Mission 51-L Press Kit	p. 296
Abbreviations and Definitions	p. 317
Chapter Notes	p. 321
Bibliography	p. 331
Index	p. 341
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

The Space Shuttle Program

How NASA Lost Its Way

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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