The book chronicles NASA's space shuttle program from the Challenger disaster in 1986 to the final mission in 2011. It tells the story of how the program recovered after the Challenger catastrophe and went on to perform significant missions.
Key themes and content include:
Missions and Diplomacy: The book covers missions like the Return to Flight (STS-26), mending Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union, conducting vital research, and assisting in the construction of the International Space Station.
Tragedies: It includes the heart-wrenching story of the Columbia tragedy and the loss of the STS-107 crew.
Human Stories: The narrative goes behind the scenes, capturing the human side of the journey through close encounters with astronauts, flight controllers, and shuttle workers.
The book highlights the people involved in making the complex spaceflight program happen, documenting an important era of space history.
Hardcover, dustjacket present with removable plastic protective cover.
