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Author
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Topic: Space Shuttle Decision, 1965-1972 (Heppenheimer)
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Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 04-26-2007 11:54 AM
  
I just started reading "The Space Shuttle Decision: 1965-1972" by T. Heppenheimer. It seems well written and very in-depth. I've only started but it seems to go off on some tangential subjects but I suppose its hard to know how much context/perspective is needed to really tell the story. Anyone else read it? Space Shuttle Decision, 1965-1972
by T.A. Heppenheimer Heppenheimer looks back at the shuttle's technical antecedents such as the X-15 rocket plane and rocket booster technologies, and illuminates the principal personalities involved in the space shuttle decision and their motivations. He traces NASA's evolving programme goals, the technical calculations, political maneuvering, and fiscal constraints, and explains the myriad designs that preceded the shuttle concept. In closing, he looks in detail at the circumstances leading to the politically charged development decision of 1972. - Paperback: 488 pages
- Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press (May 17, 2002)
- ISBN-10: 1588340147
- ISBN-13: 978-1588340146
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Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-27-2007 02:19 PM
I read it 3 or 4 years ago. I remember that the book was difficult to read and a little dry, but informative. The convoluted political process the shuttle program endured is what I remember most. |
Dwayne Day
Member Posts: 532
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 04-30-2007 08:35 AM
I'll confess to not reading it, but I have used it as reference and found it less useful than I had hoped. Heppenheimer is a quirky guy (to say the least). Some of his magazine articles are outstanding, and at times he has a great ability to turn a phrase. With the two shuttle books, however, I thought he was not at his best. I found the footnoting/referencing to be rather weak. It was hard to track down specific information in the books. I also thought that he had a very superficial account of the military role and interest in the shuttle. But I acknowledge that I tend to use books differently than the general public. I often use them as references and I am therefore very interested in details and accuracy and concerned that a claim made in a book can be traced to a specific source. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 04-30-2007 10:03 AM
It's a tough read. I started reading a couple of years ago but didn't finish mainly because there are so many issues involved... But I'll pick it up again once I can get focused on this book only (and the second volume). English not being my mother tongue didn't help. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 04-30-2007 11:27 AM
It has good info, it just seems to me that it covers too many subjects in the cause of trying to give perspective. He has an entire chapter on the aerospace industry recession of the early 70s where he goes into great detail overe the entire Lockheed L-1011/Rolls Royce RB-211 debacle. Intersting, but what really did it have to do with the space shuttle? |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-23-2014 02:31 PM
When I attended the Ken Mattingly lecture in Pontefract recently I was fortunate enough to have a winning raffle ticket. By the time mine was drawn quite a few of the prizes had gone and with what was left I chose this book. At first I thought the reading might be a bit heavy and dull but I was so wrong.It is a mine of information and has certainly changed my mind about some of the people involved in making the decision. The political and financial shenanigans going on was mind blowing and it is a wonder that NASA finished up with the vehicle it had. In my opinion Caspar Weinberger deserves much credit for his support and surprisingly, for me, so does President Nixon. I was always of the opinion that he only tolerated the Space programme, and he probably did, but in the end he decided to go for it against a lot of advice. Also he still kept Apollo's 16 and 17 going on a very tight fiscal year budget so full marks to him. The research into the different designs for the space plane and proposed engines is fascinating and especially the launch systems too. I have not yet ordered the two new Outward Odyssey volumes on the space shuttle but will do so soon and will be interested to see if this book was used for reference. It does not deal with the flights but purely on the decision whether to have a shuttle, if so of what type or to pursue a different space agenda entirely. Highly recommended if you can find a copy. Editor's note: Threads merged. |
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