To Orbit and Back Again

The Space Shuttle has been the dominant machine in the U.S. space program for thirty years. This detailed book enables readers to understand its technical systems in great depth. Recollections of those who built and flew the Shuttle are also included.

Provides a clear and complete description of the Space Shuttle as a flying machine Focuses on the engineering aspects of the Space Shuttle rather than mission objectives Explains how the Space Shuttle functions with many diagrams, technical drawings, and photographs Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Davide Sivolella was born in Pinerolo, Italy, in 1981. As a child, he developed a fascination with all kinds of flying machines, especially those which travel above the atmosphere. This passion for astronautics led to bacheklor's and master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin (Italy). He then worked as a specialist in aircraft structural repairs odf civil airliners in the United Kingsom. He thinks of aircraft as spacecraft that fly low and slow. To Orbit and Back Again: How the Space Shuttle Flew in Space is his first book, born from a life-long passion for the Space Shuttle program. Apart from his fondness for human space exploration, and writing about it, he also enjoys cooking, traveling, and landscape photography. He currently lives in England near London with his Spanish wife Monica.

Klappentext

The question may be simple, but the answer is not as easy to give. This book describes the structures and systems used each time the Shuttle was launched, and then follows an imaginary mission, explaining how those structures and systems were used in orbital operations and the return to Earth. Details of how anomalous events were dealt with on individual missions are also provided, as are the recollections of those who built and flew the Shuttle.

Highly illustrated with many diagrams, photographs and technical drawings, To Orbit and Back Again

• focuses on the engineering aspects of the Shuttle

• describes the systems and subsystems in clear, non-technical terms

• brings to the fore the design work behind the Space Shuttle and the mission itself.

Inhalt
Part 1: The Machine from A to Z.- Introduction.- Structure.- Main Propulsion System.- Solid Rocket Booster.- Orbital Maneuvering System and Reaction Control System.- Cargo Bay and Payload.- Electrical and Environmental Control Life Support.- Thermal Protection System.- Living On Board.- Part 2: Flying the Machine.- Ascent.- Orbital Flight.- Re-entry and Landing.