On February 1st 2003, one most public disaster in the human space program unfolded in the skies above north central Texas. The Space Shuttle Columbia the world's first truly reusable manned spacecraft disintegrated during its return to Earth, with a crew of seven. This book chronicles each of Columbia's 28 missions, as described by scientists and researchers who developed and supported its many payloads, by the engineers who worked on it and by the astronauts who flew Columbia. This record is intended to provide a fitting tribute to this remarkable flying machine and those who perished on its last mission.

More than a decade of contacting and interviewing astronauts More than a decade of writing previews and post-mission reports on Shuttle flights with specific emphasis on their scientific and mission objectives Direct experience of interviewing Rick Husband, the Commander of Columbia's final flight, over the telephone in April 2001

Klappentext

On February 1st 2003, one of the worst and most public disasters ever witnessed in the human space programme unfolded with horrifying suddenness in the skies above north central Texas. The Space Shuttle Columbia - the world's first truly reusable manned spacecraft - was lost during her return to Earth, along with a crew of seven. It was an event that, after the loss of Space Shuttle Challenger during a launch 17 years before, the world had hoped it would never see again. This book details each of Columbia's 28 missions in turn, as told by scientists and researchers who developed and supported her many payloads, by the engineers who worked on her and by the astronauts who flew her. In doing so, it is intended to provide a fitting tribute to this most remarkable flying machine and those who perished on her last mission.

Inhalt
It will take a hundred flights ....- Columbia delivers.- Recovery after Challenger.- Extended capabilities.- Golden age.- A miniature space station.- Uncertain future.- In my book, they always landed ....