Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   R. Michael Gordon
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.617kg
ISBN:  

9780786434343

ISBN 10:   0786434341
Pages:   354
Publication Date:   12 August 2008
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Introduction      SECTION I. PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPMENT One. In the Beginning      Two. A History of Success? The Solids      SECTION II. COUNTDOWN TO DISASTER Three. 51-C: Too Cold for the Military      Four. 1985 Was Not a Good Year      Five. Pre-Flight: Dangers Not Seen      SECTION III. CHALLENGER’S FINAL MISSION Six. A Cold Morning Like No Other      Seven. The Final Ascent: The Flight of Challenger      Eight. Post-Flight Operations      SECTION IV. INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOVERY Nine. The Challenger Investigation      Ten. Unanswered Questions: Beyond the Commission      Eleven. Recovery for Flight? STS-26      SECTION V. FROM CHALLENGER TO COLUMBIA Twelve. Beyond the Recovery: Was It Really Fixed?      Thirteen. The Fall of Space Shuttle Columbia      Fourteen. On the Road Again      SECTION VI. THE FUTURE OF MANNED SPACEFLIGHT Fifteen. A Look to the Future      Appendix I. Shuttle Flights Pre-Challenger Disaster      Appendix II. The Flights of Columbia      Appendix III. The Mission and Crew of Challenger 51-L      Appendix IV. The Crew of Columbia STS-107      Appendix V. Personal Observations on the Reliability of the Shuttle by Dr. Richard P. Feynman      Appendix VI. The Columbia Emails: Opportunities Missed      Appendix VII. Mission 51-L Press Kit      Abbreviations and Definitions      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index     

Reviews

an in-depth examination --Spaceflight.

Author Information

R. Michael Gordon is the author of several books, and has written extensively on Victorian London and the Ripper phenomenon. He lives in Long Beach, California.

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