posted 02-02-2017 08:57 AM               

This unique book tells the story of the space shuttle from its many different roles as orbital launch platform; orbital workshop; and science and technology laboratory. It is exclusively focused on the technology designed and developed to support the missions of the space shuttle program. Each mission is cataloged and detailed in turn, together with technical and managerial issues relating to each one. Although outwardly identical, the capabilities of the orbiters in the late years of the program were quite different from those in 1981.

Davide Sivolella traces the various improvements and modifications made to the shuttle over the years as part of each mission story. Thus a discussion of the Extended Duration Orbiter forms part of the STS-50 story, the need for an orbiter to replace Challenger features in the section on STS-49, and a review of the new glass cockpit comes under STS-101. 1. Technically accurate with a narrative style and simple explanations of difficult engineering concepts, it provides details of less-known concepts developed but never flown and commemorates the ingenuity of NASA and its partners in making each space shuttle mission a success by pushing the boundaries of what we can accomplish in space.

This general, popular science book focuses on recounting the adventures of each of the missions through technical esoterica, press kits, original documents, newspaper and magazine articles, memoirs and interviews. This will therefore be the most up-to-date and comprehensive account of the shuttle's many missions available and will refocus interest on a quite remarkable flying machine and space program that often is kept in the background.

• Softcover, 600 pages
  
• Springer (September 11, 2017)
  
• ISBN 978-3-319-54944-6