Wings In Orbit: Scientific And Engineering Legacies Of The Space Shuttle, 1971-2010 - Softcover

9780160868467: Wings In Orbit: Scientific And Engineering Legacies Of The Space Shuttle, 1971-2010

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0160868467 ISBN 13: 9780160868467

Publisher: Government Printing Office, 2011

"Wings in Orbit" is an authoritative documentation of the many accomplishments of the NASA Space Shuttle Program. Starting with a foreword written by astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen, this compelling book provides accurate, authentic and easily understood accounts from NASA's best subject matter experts and external resources. The book captures the passion of those who devoted their energies to the Program's success for more than three decades. It focuses on their science and engineering accomplishments, the rich history of the program and the shuttle as an icon in U.S. history. No other book on the market has accumulated as many experts and resources on this subject nor broken it down in such easy to understand language with compelling imagery. With the Shuttle Program coming to a close, consumers will be inclined to purchase this book as it provides comprehensive information on this historic program as it ends its 30 year run. The promotions for this book will definitely benefit from the publicity of this historic event.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Aviation Week article-- March, 2011 Posted by Mark Carreau

www.aviationweek.com/blogs/aw/space

As Discovery's astronauts settled onto the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on March 9 it was inescapably clear the long-running U.S. Space Shuttle Program is in de-orbit prep.

Endeavour and Atlantis are scheduled to fly for the final time within several weeks.

What's less certain is how the three-decade long flight test program will be judged by its investors, the American public. Will the shuttle's impressive capabilities be truly missed? Or were the winged orbiters, with their inability to leave low Earth orbit, an expensive detour to missions grander than Apollo's?

"Wings In Orbit: Scientific and Engineering Legacies of the Space Shuttle," is a 553-page, firsthand account of the efforts to develop and sustain a reusable spacecraft with the technologies of the sixties and seventies. The effort is focused on the shuttle program's heritage, operational strategy, engineering innovation and contributions to science, education and as well as its social legacy,
"The shuttle was to be the first commercially successful space transport," Wings quickly advises with surprising candor. "This impossible leap was not realized, an unrealistic goal that appears patently obvious in retrospect, yet it haunts the history of the shuttle to this day."

In all, Wings combines contributions from more than 325 men and women whose professional careers were intertwined with the shuttle's accomplishments and limitations as well as others who were swept up because of the program's long run and the wide assortment of missions.

The orbiters ushered satellites into space for astronomers, climate researchers, national security interests, planetary scientists and commercial satellite operators. They've flown as temporary space stations for biologists, biotechnologists, chemists, medical researchers and physicists. Shuttle crews have salvaged and repai

Reviews from Goodreads: Steve posted four stars on this title in Goodreads and had this to say, "Edited and written by individuals involved in the Shuttle Program, "Wings in Orbit" is one book every space buff must have in their collection. Certainly there are other more technical books on the program. Wings, given the limitations, does a good job of giving an over view of what was accomplished in the 30 year program."

About the Author:

Dr. Helen W. Lane is Chief Scientist for Biological Sciences and Applications Space Life Sciences at NASA/Johnson Space Center and the lead for the Space Life Scineces Academy that focuses on education for the NASA employees as well as outreach for K-20. Previously she was Manager of University Research and Affairs for NASA's Johnson Space Center. Dr. Lane has also managed NASA's Advanced Human Support Technologies Program, which includes innovative work in food science and technologies for extended-duration spaceflight. She was Acting Director of Technology Transfer Office and branch chief for biomedical operations and research that included the nutrition research laboratory and clinical medicine. As NASA's Chief Nutritionist, she led efforts to define nutritional requirements for healthy crew members during spaceflight. Her research and administrative functions have included setting the nutrition standards for the International Space Station and the joint U.S.- Russian Shuttle-Mir flights. Her research focused on energy and protein requirements as well as space-food nutritional quality. Dr. Lane has also completed clinical and basic science research on selenium and breast cancer. Dr. Lane received her B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, her M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1994. She served as Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Texas Medical Center from 1977 to 1984 and as Professor of Nutrition at Auburn University from 1984 to 1989. At present she serves as Adjunct Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. As a registered dietitian, she is active in the American Dietetics Association and a member of the American Society for Nutrition.

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