{"product_id":"the-space-shuttle-program-r-michael-gordon-9780786434343","title":"The Space Shuttle Program: How NASA Lost Its Way","description":"\u003cp\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eChallenger\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eColumbia\u003c\/i\u003e. 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 \u003ci\u003eChallenger\u003c\/i\u003e) and OV-102 (which was to become \u003ci\u003eColumbia\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The reader is then taken through a detailed look at the first successful flights made by \u003ci\u003eChallenger\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eColumbia\u003c\/i\u003e and the cancellation of top-secret Shuttle flight 51-C (which would have launched under nearly identical weather conditions as the ill-fated \u003ci\u003eChallenger\u003c\/i\u003e). 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e R. Michael Gordon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0786434341\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780786434343\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/12\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 354\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.40lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.90h x 6.90w x 0.90d","brand":"R. Michael Gordon","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48448937099519,"sku":"9780786434343","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_49d1e55d-fd15-454a-a7c5-2dfd07d4cf57.jpg?v=1777261245","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-space-shuttle-program-r-michael-gordon-9780786434343","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}