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Author Topic:   Reference Guide to the International Space Station
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-31-2006 11:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is an excellent new NASA publication, SP-2006-557, Reference Guide to the International Space Station edited by Gary Kitmacher.

From the introduction:

This book is designed to provide a broad overview of the Station's complex configuration, design, and component systems, as well as the sophisticated procedures required in the Station's construction and operation.
What sets this guide apart from other references is its full-color, illustrated layout. There are exploded diagrams of each component; fold-outs detailing station-wide life support and control systems; a step-by-step construction timeline that incorporates both illustrations and photography of the real hardware, either in space or on the ground; crew rosters, and much more.

Two sample pages:

Per the editor, many copies have already been distributed within the program. If you are interested in obtaining your own, you should write to the Space Station Program, JSC and request a copy. Apogee books is also reportedly considering republishing it.

Kitmacher says that a similar publication may be in the works for the NASA's Exploration architecture.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 10-31-2006 12:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Had the chance to see a draft copy of it. It's just truly brilliant, magnificent, I'm running out of words. This is THE kind of books I'd like to have (and see more often).

I still don't get it why publishers don't come up with such amazing books (except for costs maybe).

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 11-13-2006 09:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Has anyone tried to get a copy of this book? I was unable to find any reference to it on the JSC site or on the NASA Publications pages...If anyone has more specific info regarding who I might contact, I would be very grateful.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 11-13-2006 09:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't have any news from NASA regarding this book. Same thing regarding the LLRV monograph. But since both are not published by NASA HQ (JSC and Dryden) and communications (or lack of) being minimal at best, I guess we'll have to wait.

Each center has its own distribution system and I don't have any clue as to how things will eventually turn regarding the distribution of both publications.

keith.wilson
Member

Posts: 87
From: Callander, Stirling, Scotland
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 11-13-2006 01:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for keith.wilson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Reference Guide to the International Space Station will be published by Apogee Books on November 21st I believe.
  • ISBN-10: 1-894959-34-5
  • ISBN-13: 978-1-894959-34-6

  • 266 color photographs
  • 198 color illustrations
  • 25 color tables
  • 2 color charts

astroborg
Member

Posts: 200
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 11-14-2006 08:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for astroborg   Click Here to Email astroborg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
By the way, Gary frequents at least one of the Yahoo space modeling groups, and I've also bought some books from him off of eBay.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-15-2006 10:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Apparently, the NASA SP-version of the book is no longer available. All copies printed were given out.

That said, as mentioned above, the Apogee version should be available later this month. It will not feature fold-out pages and will be of a smaller format, but should be just as spectacular when seen in-person.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 11-16-2006 01:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Apparently, the NASA SP-version of the book is no longer available. All copies printed were given out.
Makes you wonder why they've printed it in the first place. It wasn't publicly announced (except on your website!) and not available anywhere else (NASA HQ, Government Printing Office).

ringo67
Member

Posts: 179
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-08-2006 03:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ringo67   Click Here to Email ringo67     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just received my copy of Apogee's reprint of the Reference Guide to the International Space Station from Amazon today.

It is an incredible publication with information about all of the modules, launch vehicles and every flight that has flown to the ISS up to the middle of this year.

I would have loved to see this in a larger size, but this one of the best books I've seen on the station.

johntosullivan
Member

Posts: 162
From: Cork, Cork, Ireland
Registered: Oct 2005

posted 01-18-2007 05:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for johntosullivan   Click Here to Email johntosullivan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looking at the patches in this book's chapter on missions, I see they've used a non-standard patch for ISS Expedition 1 and for STS-112.

If this is an official NASA book, are these the official patches for these missions?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-18-2007 08:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The two patches were brought up elsewhere in discussion (though I can't recall if it was by e-mail or on another forum) and I believe Gary said that they were in error/driven by the availability of suitable graphics at the time of publication, and would be corrected in future versions (presumably Apogee and/or web distributed).

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 02-09-2007 06:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You can download this book at this NASA site.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 04-20-2013 04:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone know where I might inquire about purchasing the hard-copy edition of the "Assembly Complete" version of this book? I can't find any reference to it on either the GPO or NASA publications sites. Thanks!

CMikeW
Member

Posts: 89
From: United States
Registered: Apr 2013

posted 08-25-2013 06:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CMikeW     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just picked up a copy of "Reference Guide to the International Space Station." The ISBN is 0-9710327-2-6. The NASA number is SP-2006-557. It has color covers and is spiral bound.

Looking on Bookfinder I find prices of $500 plus up to $2000 plus. Is this for real?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 08-26-2013 08:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There was a copy published by Apogee Books.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 08-26-2013 10:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't know if it is the same edition, but I bought one a couple of days ago on Amazon with the pictorial covers and spiral bound for 0.20 plus the 3.99 shipping.

CMikeW
Member

Posts: 89
From: United States
Registered: Apr 2013

posted 08-26-2013 05:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CMikeW     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think the amazon version is a little different. Check your copy to see if the ISBN is the same as I noted in my previous post.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-26-2013 05:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA's print run (the spiral-bound edition) was small and distribution was mostly contained within the agency.

That led to an early demand for the publication, leading to increased asking prices.

The book is now outdated, demand has dropped off, but some dealers have yet to reset their prices with what the market will bear.

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