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Informationen zum Autor R. Michael Gordon is the author of several books, and has written extensively on Victorian London and the Ripper phenomenon. He lives in Long Beach, California. Klappentext This critical study of NASA's space shuttle program provides an in-depth examination of the events, decisions, and policies that may have contributed to the horrific destruction of the shuttles Challenger and Columbia. It first traces the early development of NASA's shuttle program, specifically examining the problems associated with the designs of shuttles OV-099 (which was to become Challenger) and OV-102 (which was to become Columbia). The reader is then taken through a detailed look at the first successful flights made by Challenger and Columbia and the cancellation of top-secret Shuttle flight 51-C (which would have launched under nearly identical weather conditions as the ill-fated Challenger). An in-depth assessment of the shuttles' disastrous final launches follows, including detailed accounts of the post-flight search and rescue operations, the official investigations into each accident, and the impact of each disaster on the future of NASA's manned space program. Zusammenfassung Provides an examination of the events! decisions! and policies that may have contributed to the horrific destruction of the shuttles Challenger and Columbia. This book traces the early development of NASA's shuttle program! examining the problems associated with the designs of shuttles OV-099 (Challenger) and OV-102 (Columbia). Inhaltsverzeichnis Table of ContentsIntroduction SECTION I. PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPMENTOne. In the Beginning Two. A History of Success? The Solids SECTION II. COUNTDOWN TO DISASTERThree. 51-C: Too Cold for the Military Four. 1985 Was Not a Good Year Five. Pre-Flight: Dangers Not Seen SECTION III. CHALLENGER'S FINAL MISSIONSix. A Cold Morning Like No Other Seven. The Final Ascent: The Flight of Challenger Eight. Post-Flight Operations SECTION IV. INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOVERYNine. The Challenger Investigation Ten. Unanswered Questions: Beyond the Commission Eleven. Recovery for Flight? STS-26 SECTION V. FROM CHALLENGER TO COLUMBIATwelve. Beyond the Recovery: Was It Really Fixed? Thirteen. The Fall of Space Shuttle Columbia Fourteen. On the Road Again SECTION VI. THE FUTURE OF MANNED SPACEFLIGHTFifteen. A Look to the Future Appendix I. Shuttle Flights Pre-Challenger Disaster Appendix II. The Flights of Columbia Appendix III. The Mission and Crew of Challenger 51-L Appendix IV. The Crew of Columbia STS-107 Appendix V. Personal Observations on the Reliability of the Shuttle by Dr. Richard P. Feynman Appendix VI. The Columbia Emails: Opportunities Missed Appendix VII. Mission 51-L Press Kit Abbreviations and Definitions Chapter Notes Bibliography Index ...
