{"product_id":"picturing-the-space-shuttle-the-early-years-9781683402053","title":"Picturing the Space Shuttle: The Early Years","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRare views of the beginnings of the historic space program, selected and presented by two leading space flight authorities\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter the excitement of the first Moon landing, the U.S. space program took an ambitious new direction closer to home: NASA's Space Shuttle program promised frequent access to Earth orbit for medical and scientific breakthroughs; deploying, repairing, and maintaining satellites; and assembling a space station. \u003ci\u003ePicturing the Space Shuttle\u003c\/i\u003e is the \u003cb\u003efirst photographic history of the program's early years\u003c\/b\u003e as the world's first spaceplane debuted.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShowcasing over \u003cb\u003e450 unpublished and lesser-known images\u003c\/b\u003e, this book traces the growth of the Space Shuttle from \u003cb\u003e1965 to 1982, from initial concept through its first four space flights.\u003c\/b\u003e The photographs offer windows into designing the first reusable space vehicle as well as the construction and testing of the prototype shuttle \u003ci\u003eEnterprise\u003c\/i\u003e. They also show the factory assembly and delivery of the Space Shuttle \u003ci\u003eColumbia\u003c\/i\u003e, preparations at the major NASA field centers, and astronaut selection and training. Finally, the book devotes a chapter to each of the first four orbital missions, STS-1 through STS-4, providing an \u003cb\u003eabundance of seldom-seen photos\u003c\/b\u003e for each flight.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMostly selected from J. L. Pickering's personal archive, \u003cb\u003ethe world's largest private collection of U.S. human space flight images\u003c\/b\u003e, the high-quality photographs in this book are paired with veteran journalist John Bisney's \u003cb\u003edetailed descriptions and historical background information.\u003c\/b\u003e The book also includes images of NASA and shuttle contractor booklets, manuals, access badges, and press kits, as well as a foreword by Robert Crippen, the pilot of the first Space Shuttle flight. \u003ci\u003ePicturing the Space Shuttle\u003c\/i\u003e re-creates the excitement of an era in which the possibilities of space exploration seemed limitless.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Florida Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/07\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781683402053\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288","brand":"John Bisney, J. L. Pickering","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40721547788469,"sku":"9781683402053","price":38.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_29e00ed7-b9ae-48a9-b8d1-5e4785070ab8.jpg?v=1628607044","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/picturing-the-space-shuttle-the-early-years-9781683402053","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}