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Author
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Topic: Wings in Orbit: Scientific and Engineering Legacies of the Space Shuttle
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minipci
Member Posts: 159
From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted April 28, 2011 02:01 PM
  
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
According to Wayne Hale, the Government Printing Office printed "a truly tiny number" of hardcover books and refused to do another printing.
I don't know how accurate this is, but the GPO Bookstore website says that the hardcover edition is being reprinted. It mentions this under Availability. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2232
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted April 28, 2011 03:47 PM
I put in my order many months ago direct to NASA. I did get an email about a month ago regarding the order (I'd have to dig it out remember what it was about). I don't care if I get a hard or softcover, I'm happy to pay for a real book, I can't read anything on the screen for very long before my attention wanders... |
Neil DC
Member Posts: 13
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Registered: May 2010
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posted April 28, 2011 07:57 PM
Received my hardcopy today through Amazon. Had seen that they took my money earlier in the week and sent out a UPS tracking number. Ordered it ages ago and almost forgot about it before Amazon asked me if I still wanted it.From a quick flick through, it is lavishly illustrated and a pretty comprehensive edition. Reminds a bit of the large books Energia or Khrunichev produce on special anniversaries. Thrilled to finally have it, well worth the wait. I am sure others will get their copies shortly. |
cspg
Member Posts: 3450
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted April 30, 2011 01:18 AM
Email received from JSC Gift Shop. Expected delivery date: June 30th (although I don't know if it's delivery to the JSC or to customers). The first print run has shipped, which explains why some Amazon customers have received it (I guess that is also true for GPO). Now there's a second print run. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 1176
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted April 30, 2011 02:01 AM
The full email is this - I apologize for this severe delay and inconvenience. I have shared with GPO your and others' feedback and disappointment, so they are aware of the necessity to ensure there are more than enough books to cover all orders and then some. I can assure you that you will be the first customer that we will ship the books to when they do arrive. I can also assure you -- and I urge you to advise customers of this point -- the book is probably not going to be available elsewhere until the next printing is delivered, so there is no advantage going to Amazon since the books they've received were for orders already placed, so they are on back order along with everyone else for orders coming in now. Small consolation... expect delivery around June 30th. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 705
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted April 30, 2011 12:19 PM
God, this is infuriating.I have an Amazon order pending for the softcover, which their site says *should* ship sometime around the third week of May. I've also got the GPO website telling me that the hardcover edition is being reprinted...and I had a phone conversation on Thursday with a GPO employee who suggested between wheezing coughs that I try back in 30-60 days to see what, if anything, was happening with this book. I'm squarely in the target market for Wings in Orbit...an American taxpayer with no direct connection to the space program, who nonetheless has an enthusiasm for the Shuttle and its legacy. It's absurd that no one can give me a straight answer about when this book might be available or how I can buy a copy. |
Spoon
Member Posts: 63
From: Carlisle, England
Registered: May 2006
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posted April 30, 2011 03:50 PM
I had two orders for the hardcover cancelled by the seller due to lack of availability (Powells, The Book Depository UK), each after my card had been charged then eventually refunded. I cancelled my own Amazon order as it seemed to be going nowhere, especially after picking up on Wayne Hales frustrated comments on another forum (such as worries about possibly higher hardback reprint prices).I eventually managed to order a softback edition through Barnes & Noble which is currently sitting in a UPS hub in the UK waiting to be delivered on Tuesday next week, due to all the bank holidays we are 'enjoying' (or working, in my case) in the UK at the moment. I would rather have had a hardcover copy, but am now just happy to be on the cusp of actually having any edition. If it is any help to anyone, Barnes & Noble are showing softcover editions ready for shipping 'within 24 hours'. |
PeterO
Member Posts: 120
From: Rochester, NH
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted April 30, 2011 03:53 PM
My local Barnes & Noble (Newington, New Hampsire) had four paperback copies on the shelf on Thursday. Unfortunately they were all shrink wrapped, so I couldn't leaf through it. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 705
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted April 30, 2011 06:25 PM
Got it.After cancelled orders with Amazon and my closest Barnes & Noble, I gassed it ten minutes down I-25 to the B&N at Park Meadows and I now have a softcover copy in my hands. Beautifully produced book. I'll still try to wrangle a hardcover, but FYI if anyone wants a paperback, the B&N clerk told me that they have just over 100 copies warehoused and available within a week to US customers. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2232
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted May 01, 2011 10:13 PM
Barnes and Noble stores have it? I guess I'll run over there tomorrow and see what's there. I'll cancel my NASA order if it's there. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2232
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted May 03, 2011 01:37 AM
Got it! There was one on the shelf in the downtown Seattle B&N bookstore. Grabbed it and canceled my order with NASA.Great book, tons of geeky techie details.  |
ringo67
Member Posts: 87
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted May 10, 2011 10:42 AM
I wound up cancelling my Amazon order and ordering the softcover version online from Barnes & Noble after I got an email with a 15% off coupon.I just got the book this morning. It is a hefty tome. I flipped through it, and it looks great. I can't wait to dig into it. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 874
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted May 10, 2011 11:12 AM
I don't live near a bookstore so I'm just waiting to get it from NASA. Plus it gives me time to find room for it. |
dsenechal
Member Posts: 396
From:
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted May 30, 2011 08:51 PM
Just ordered a softcover copy from bn.com for $45+tax, with free shipping. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24064
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted May 30, 2011 09:06 PM
I dropped by the Johnson Space Center Exchange Shop last week and inquired about "Wings in Orbit." The books, both a partial order of hardcover copies (all that were printed) and softcover copies, were received the week earlier and are scheduled to start shipping this week. Hardcover orders may be delayed going out just for a little longer due to what I understand is something special planned. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 874
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted May 30, 2011 09:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Hardcover orders may be delayed going out just for a little longer due to what I understand is something special planned.
Something special eh? I hope it is worth the extra wait I'm going through for it. On the plus side, the possible delay is good because it gives me more time to figure out where to put it on my bookshelf. 
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minipci
Member Posts: 159
From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted June 01, 2011 03:52 PM
Today I received the hardcover copy which I ordered about a month ago from the GPO.Even though the GPO website still says the hardcover version is being re-printed, it looks like they are now shipping them out to customers. I am very impressed with it so far, but needless to say it was a very big surprise to receive it given what that website says. It seems to be worth every penny! (One curious point is that it seems it came to me via Ramstein AB, perhaps on some military/government mail-run.) |
contra
Member Posts: 292
From: Kiel, Germany
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted June 05, 2011 12:17 AM
I received my hardcover copy here in Germany three days ago. Ordered it through amazon.de 5 or 6 weeks ago. Great book. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 24064
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted June 08, 2011 05:53 PM
My hardcover copy ordered through Johnson Space Center's exchange store (ShopNASA) arrived today. The "something special" I had heard about earlier was not included so I guess they chose expediency over extras, which is fine by me. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 874
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted June 08, 2011 09:31 PM
Perhaps the "something special" was done at random or they aren't doing it at all. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 1176
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted June 13, 2011 11:39 AM
Received my soft cover from Houston today, it having sat at the local Royal Mail sorting office for four days. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1113
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted June 13, 2011 12:20 PM
Received my hardcover last week. The cover image and title are surprisingly moving and poignant, reinforcing the fact that it's going to be a long time before we see a vehicle with "wings in orbit" again (after Atlantis' last flight, that is). |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 705
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 14, 2011 03:43 PM
Does anyone have any info re: the actual publication/distribution status of the hardcover edition of Wings in Orbit? Is the HC edition actually being re-printed, or is NASA just filling backorders and leaving it at that?I talked to someone at the JSC store; he told me that they have about 50 copies on hand but weren't allowed to sell them as they were intended for filling orders previously submitted. This made little sense to me (If the orders have already been received, wouldn't the shop know exactly how many copies they needed?), but the guy was frankly pretty evasive. The GPO rep I talked to wasn't any more help; she seemed unable to offer any info other than what the GPO Web page for the book already says ("Being reprinted, no stock, etc). What's the deal? Anyone? |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2232
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted June 15, 2011 02:24 PM
Not sure if this helps anyone, but I was at Barnes and Noble in Seattle yesterday during a break from work. There was probably at least five copies (softcover) on the shelf there. |
space4u
Member Posts: 276
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted June 22, 2011 11:46 AM
Got my hardcover Wings in Orbit in the mail today and I did get the special stuff: signed by John Shannon, John Casper, Leroy Cain and Helen Lane (editor). Worth the wait. Thanks NASA! |
bookcollector
Member Posts: 17
From: North Carolina, US of A
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted June 23, 2011 04:54 PM
Got MY hardcover copy from JSC today, no extras. Nice looking book, can't wait to start wading in. |
astroborg
Member Posts: 161
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted June 25, 2011 07:38 AM
I must be one of the lucky ones; I placed my order for a hardback copy via JSC store (ShopNASA.com) back in August, and just got my copy yesterday (June 24), and it was accompanied by a nice note thanking me for my patience, and signed by John Shannon, John Casper, LeRoy Cain and Helen Lane. So for me it was worth the wait! |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1113
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted June 25, 2011 12:44 PM
Nothing signed on my hardcover ordered in advance. I wonder how they decided who would get signed copies. Kind of annoying. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 874
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted June 27, 2011 11:58 AM
Mine arrived to day. Got lucky, it had a note thanking me for my patience and was signed as well. Flipping through it, looks like a great book. Noticed that they had the 133 launch date put in, but no mission days for it. |
jotulloch
New Member Posts: 3
From: Oakland, CA
Registered: May 2011
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posted June 27, 2011 01:40 PM
Received my copy today, complete with signatures. I have to keep it in its box or my entire work day will be spent reading it... |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 2042
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted June 27, 2011 04:55 PM
JSC Exchange store has just started up a waiting list for hardcover copies of this book.If you forward your contact information: Full Name, Phone Number, & Email to Cynthia.J.Kibby@nasa.gov she will add you to the waiting list! It is my understanding that the list currently runs in to low double digits. Their next intake of books are "coming soon" and will be in the region of 200 to 300....so get your name down asap. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 1074
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted June 27, 2011 07:43 PM
Mine arrived today and was a signed copy as well. Great book! |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 874
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted June 27, 2011 07:52 PM
Do they plan on one day doing a reprint to include all the 133, 134 and 135 info in it or would that be to expensive? |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 705
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 27, 2011 09:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fezman92:
Do they plan on one day doing a reprint to include all the 133, 134 and 135 info in it or would that be to expensive?
I would doubt it. Wings in Orbit is not a linear, facts-and-figures chronicle of the program but rather an overall study of the Shuttle's engineering, scientific, and cultural heritage. Those specifics, while they would be nice to have, aren't critical to a broad examination of the program as a whole.For that true geek minutae, we'll have to (hopefully) wait for the revised edition of Dennis Jenkins' book... |
SpaceDust
Member Posts: 79
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted June 29, 2011 08:30 AM
Wayne Hale posted this on Twitter: For all those who want their 'Wings in Orbit' signed, I'll be at KSC for the 135 launch and JSC book signing Aug 8 |
MajTom7
New Member Posts: 5
From:
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted August 05, 2011 12:38 PM
I ordered the hardcover from the GPO June 6. In mid-July, they told me that it shipped July 8. Today, they told me my order was cancelled July 8 and the book was out of print. They just never processed a refund because they had no idea if I wanted the paperback instead (and of course, they never asked). Disappointing and frustrating, to say the least... and no one seems to have them. Booksamillion lists it but they don't have it in stock. |
cspg
Member Posts: 3450
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted August 05, 2011 02:40 PM
That's just great...  Ordered my hardcover 51 weeks ago. I wonder when and if it will show up. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 2042
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted August 10, 2011 09:00 AM
It is my understanding that the JSC exchange store now has hardback copies in stock. They are however considering a book signing (no names confirmed yet but Wayne Hale is apparently not one of them) and the books will then be made available first to those that ordered them... |
MajTom7
New Member Posts: 5
From:
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted August 20, 2011 06:03 PM
I was lucky to find a hardcover copy on eBay. Those of you lucky enough to have received a signed copy: was your copy plastic wrapped or open when you got it? |
astroborg
Member Posts: 161
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted August 22, 2011 05:26 PM
Mine was signed, and "opened". No shrink wrap. |
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