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Author
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Topic: Books about the STS Approach and Landing Test (ALT) program
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-24-2008 06:09 AM
   
Are there any good books out there which cover the Approach and Landing Test (ALT) program - at least in part, if not all?There seems to be no consolidated recording of the story of spaceplane development through to STS-1, apart from individual histories of the X-15 program. The ALT program, though short, must be worthy of documentation. |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 03-24-2008 06:22 AM
There is a very good book on the development of the space shuttle by Dennis Jenkins entitled "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System." It is not specific to ALT (but does cover it), and covers the scope of development very well. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-24-2008 06:40 AM
This looks ideal and highly recommended on Amazon. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-24-2008 09:27 AM
As I've mentioned in another post, there are three different editions of Dennis Jenkins' book: - Space Shuttle: History of Developing the National Space Transportation System
- Space Shuttle: History of Developing the National Space Transportation System - The Beginning Through STS-75
- Space Shuttle: History of the National Space Transportation System - The First 100 Missions
I would bet on the first edition to have the best coverage of the development of the space shuttle. Later editions have sections removed and replaced by newer material (the book would been getting larger and larger and more expensive!). Just had a look at the index of both three editions, the first two seem to have better coverage (but not by much), but I can only recommend to buy all three as the first one has a more extensive section on the shuttle's development than the third one. All three are a must have if you like the shuttle! |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-24-2008 09:56 AM
Thanks Chris. I'll start with #1 and work up! |
kking
Member Posts: 106
From: Topmost, KY
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 03-24-2008 10:12 AM
There is a ton on documents you can download from the NASA STI website. I downloaded a bunch not long ago. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 03-24-2008 01:57 PM
Excellent, excellent book... Really about the only reference of its kind. (I only have the third edition, so I'm not sure about ALT coverage in the earlier ones.)I'm hoping that we'll see a fourth edition after the end of the program, but I think I recall to Jenkins saying (probably here on cS) that his publisher didn't seem interested in another revision. Pity. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 03-24-2008 08:41 PM
Best coverage I had seen of ALT was NASA's movie related to it as it covered all major phases of the program from captive passive, to captive active, to the free flight phases. You even get to see Freddo's pilot induced oscillation problem during the paved runway landing (a little scarey to watch too). It was pretty long by the standards of NASA's other films, but it was also crammed with loads of stuff in it. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-25-2008 12:58 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
I'm hoping that we'll see a fourth edition after the end of the program, but I think I recall to Jenkins saying (probably here on cS) that his publisher didn't seem interested in another revision. Pity.
I wouldn't want to talk on Dennis Jenkins' behalf but the story of this book was that he submitted his book proposal to several publishers and they all turned him down so he decided to bypass any publishing company and that proved to be a smart move because the book turned out to be a big success (hence the second and third edition). I've asked Dennis Jenkins some time ago (I guess it was when his book about Discovery/Return-to-Flight came out) about a new edition of his Space Shuttle book and he replied that nothing was planned for now but if one should come out, it would be after the shuttle's retirement. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-25-2008 04:21 AM
For what it's worth, I have just bought an unused copy of the first book via Barnes & Noble for $1.99 plus postage! |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-25-2008 05:32 AM
For my personal use I have all the Aviation Week articles covering the ALT program assembled in a photocopied 'book' and this really is second to none when it comes to details on the various flights. But the Jenkins book is very good, too. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2913
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-25-2008 06:09 AM
For Paul and others: There is at least one consolidated publication recording of spaceplane development thru STS-1. "On The Frontier; Flight Research at Dryden, 1946-1981," written by Richard Hallion for the NASA History Series in 1984. The book's appendixes section contains all research flight recordings of piloted aircraft with complete program chronologies, accident stats, organizational charts, and much more.Included is a section of Shuttle 747/ALT program development. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-25-2008 07:27 AM
As an aside, I really have fond memories of following the ALT program. Of course this was the beginning of the Shuttle program and everything was new and exciting. In those pre-internet days it wasn't easy to get news on what was happening, especially because I live in the Netherlands. But I had just started subscribing to Aviation Week & Space Technology and the wealth of details on the program was staggering. Reading the weekly progress reports really made me feel I had excelent knowledge, which would otherwise have been limited to a small photo in a local newspaper. AW&ST's coverage of the early Shuttle program was excellent and it was really special for me to be in the same room with Craig Covault during some of the press conferences at KSC during STS-1. |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 03-25-2008 08:42 AM
I am right in the midst of editing footage from ALT right now, editing HD transfers from both the captive and active flights, with the onboards, air to air, ground, etc. It's all for the Space Shuttle: First Flights set. All of the flights are covered.I should have a short clip from this footage up on our site this weekend as a tease for the set. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-25-2008 08:49 AM
Good news on the ALT editing, but don't edit too much. I have a NASA-video containing all the complete ALT flight (video, not film) and I want them all to be on your set in full.  |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-25-2008 09:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
As an aside, I really have fond memories of following the ALT program.
THAT sounds like a lot like my life, Ed!I subscribed to AW&ST in 1984 though until 2004. Now the issues are probably being used as toilet paper somewhere... |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-25-2008 09:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
I've asked Dennis Jenkins some time ago (I guess it was when his book about Discovery/Return-to-Flight came out) about a new edition of his Space Shuttle book and he replied that nothing was planned for now but if one should come out, it would be after the shuttle's retirement.
I can confirm that this is the plan. Yeeehaa! or Yipeee! (whatever...) |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 03-25-2008 09:49 AM
Awesome! Great to hear. Thanks, Chris...Now I'll have yet another to add to the shopping list. At least I've got a couple of years yet. |
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