At Home in Space - The Late Seventies into the Eighties

This volume, like the others, not only focuses upon the individual missions within the decade but also upon key challenges facing human space exploration at specific points within those years - from the problems of simply breathing and eating in space to the challenges of venturing outside in a pressurized spacesuit, the development of newer and better space toilets, and the difficulties of locomotion on the Moon.
The Eighties was a time when traveling into space far more commonplace. Examining in detail the American and Soviet fronts, Ben Evans gives a comprehensive analysis of the varying fortunes of the U.S. space shuttle in the Eighties, including its early test flights and commercial flights, its problems, the 51L tragedy and its aftermath, and the resumption of operations with STS-26. The U.S. story ends with STS-37 in April 1991. In the Soviet sphere, two pivotal space station efforts - Salyut 7 and its succesor, Mir - are considered, showing how they were alike and different.

List of contents

Contents.- Illustrations.- Author's Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Chapter 1: Unlikely partners.- Chapter 2: A home after Apollo.- Chapter 3: A tale of science, sickness and the Sun.- Chapter 4: Red stars in the East.- Chapter 5: Dreams and nightmares.- Bibliography.- Index.

About the author

Ben Evans was born in October 1976 in Solihull and attended the University of Birmingham, from where he gained a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and later a teaching qualification.

Summary

This volume, like the others, not only focuses upon the individual missions within the decade but also upon key challenges facing human space exploration at specific points within those years - from the problems of simply breathing and eating in space to the challenges of venturing outside in a pressurized spacesuit, the development of newer and better space toilets, and the difficulties of locomotion on the Moon. The Eighties was a time when traveling into space far more commonplace. Examining in detail the American and Soviet fronts, Ben Evans gives a comprehensive analysis of the varying fortunes of the U.S. space shuttle in the Eighties, including its early test flights and commercial flights, its problems, the 51L tragedy and its aftermath, and the resumption of operations with STS-26. The U.S. story ends with STS-37 in April 1991. In the Soviet sphere, two pivotal space station efforts - Salyut 7 and its succesor, Mir - are considered, showing how they were alike and different.

Additional text

From the reviews:
“In At Home in Space … author Ben Evans offers his perspective on human spaceflight programs of 1973-1982. … this book is packed with the sorts of details that space fans will love. … The black-and-white photos that illustrate the book are an interesting addition. … Space enthusiasts will likely enjoy this book.” (Linda Billings, Quest, Vol. 21 (2), 2014)
“This book covers the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Skylab, the Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 space stations and the start of the space shuttle programme. … I was also pleased to see some detailed coverage of the USS Enterprise orbiter. Accompanied throughout with colour and black and white photographs, this book … is a very absorbing and authoritative read. … Highly recommended.” (Robin Flegg, Astronomy Now, August, 2012)
“The third and latest book in Ben Evans’ monumental five-volume series on human space flight is now available and continues the journey from the early 1970s through to the end of the early Shuttle flights. As a narrative history it reads well and the link to global events, both political and economic, is welcome … . With 481 pages, the book is well illustrated, supporting 65 pictures of which 49 are in colour.” (Spaceflight, Vol. 54 (7), July, 2012)
“The author has skillfully recounted each manned space mission of Salyut 5 and 6, Skylab, ASTP, and the first four space shuttle flights. … What sets this book apart from other space histories is the description of each mission set in the political, economic, and social conditions of the time. … Anyone interested in space should enjoy reading these chronicles, and like the space explorers of the seventies and early eighties, they may just feel ‘At Home in Space.’” (Stephen Adamczyk, AD Astra, 2012)

Report

From the reviews:
"In At Home in Space ... author Ben Evans offers his perspective on human spaceflight programs of 1973-1982. ... this book is packed with the sorts of details that space fans will love. ... The black-and-white photos that illustrate the book are an interesting addition. ... Space enthusiasts will likely enjoy this book." (Linda Billings, Quest, Vol. 21 (2), 2014)
"This book covers the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Skylab, the Salyut 6 and Salyut 7 space stations and the start of the space shuttle programme. ... I was also pleased to see some detailed coverage of the USS Enterprise orbiter. Accompanied throughout with colour and black and white photographs, this book ... is a very absorbing and authoritative read. ... Highly recommended." (Robin Flegg, Astronomy Now, August, 2012)
"The third and latest book in Ben Evans' monumental five-volume series on human space flight is now available and continues the journey from the early 1970s through to the end of the early Shuttle flights. As a narrative history it reads well and the link to global events, both political and economic, is welcome ... . With 481 pages, the book is well illustrated, supporting 65 pictures of which 49 are in colour." (Spaceflight, Vol. 54 (7), July, 2012)
"The author has skillfully recounted each manned space mission of Salyut 5 and 6, Skylab, ASTP, and the first four space shuttle flights. ... What sets this book apart from other space histories is the description of each mission set in the political, economic, and social conditions of the time. ... Anyone interested in space should enjoy reading these chronicles, and like the space explorers of the seventies and early eighties, they may just feel 'At Home in Space.'" (Stephen Adamczyk, AD Astra, 2012)

Product details

• Authors: Ben Evans
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 14.12.2010
• EAN: 9781441988096
• ISBN: 978-1-4419-8809-6
• No. of pages: 481
• Dimensions: 172 mm x 239 mm x 27 mm
• Weight: 802 g
• Illustrations: XIII, 481 p. 65 illus., 49 illus. in color.
• Series: Space Exploration; Springer Praxis Books; Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration; Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration; Springer Praxis Books; Space Exploration
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Aviation and space engineering