Synopses & Reviews
This book places Space Shuttle Discovery within the history of the space shuttle program and provides an introduction to space shuttle technology, with a focus on the orbiter itself. Discovery's unique history is presented mission by mission that includes a brief narrative of each mission, a chart of its key statistics (dates, duration, altitude, payloads, etc.), each mission's patch with an explanation of its unique symbolism, a crew portrait, and two to four iconic photos that capture the distinct activities and successes of each mission. The book also features anecdotes and memories of several astronauts who flew on Discovery, as well as its modernization over the years and its final preparation for retirement at the Smithsonian.
Synopsis
An introduction to all 39 missions of the most iconic space shuttle orbiter,
Discovery, which will be displayed at the Smithsonian starting in Spring 2012.
Synopsis
The champion of the space shuttle fleet—Discovery—flew 39 missions and spent, in total, a full year in space. It flew more varied missions and accomplished more historic firsts than the other orbiters (it delivered the Hubble into space, it went up three times to fix it, it flew John Glenn into space as symbol of NASA’s resilience, it had the first woman pilot, it was the first to dock with the International Space Station, and it was the first to have a black pilot). The book will be an appealing package for people interested in aviation and spaceflight, as well as well as those who will see Discovery at the National Air and Space Museum (tentatively scheduled to arrive in April or May 2012).
About the Author
Dennis Jenkins (Washington D.C.) is a consulting engineer in Cape Canaveral, Florida. During more than 20 years of service with various aerospace contractors, including Martin Marietta, Lockheed, Lockheed Martin, and United Space Alliance, Mr. Jenkins worked on the Space Shuttle, X-33, and several classified projects. He has also written over 30 works on aerospace history. Roger D. Launius (Washington D.C.) graduated from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, and received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, in 1982. He then worked as a civilian historian with the United States Air Force until 1990, when he became chief historian of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1990 to 2002.www.nasm.si.edu/staffDetail.cfm?staffID=37 Valerie Neal (Washington D.C.) joined the Smithsonian as a curator in 1989 and is responsible for post-Apollo human spaceflight artifact collections, which principally document the history of Skylab and the space shuttle.www.nasm.si.edu/staffDetail.cfm?staffID=40