Space Shuttle Stories

By: Tom Jones

Published by Smithsonian Institution, 2025-04-08

<b>Experience all 135 NASA space shuttle missions ever flown through the words of the astronauts themselves in this spectacularly illustrated volume <br><br> With more than 600 photos from the NASA archives, this guide is perfect for fans of space history and spaceflight <br><br> Winner of the American Astronautical Society's 2023 Eugene M. Emme Award and the International Academy of Astronautics' 2024 Social Sciences Book Award</b><br><br>NASA's space shuttle was the world's first reusable spacecraft, accomplishing many firsts and inspiring generations across its 30-year lifespan as America's iconic spaceship. In <i>Space Shuttle Stories</i>, shuttle astronaut Tom Jones interviewed more than 130 fellow astronauts for personal vignettes from each mission, complemented by their written accounts for all 135 space shuttle missions, from <i>Columbia</i>'s maiden flight in 1981 to the final launch of <i>Atlantis </i>in 2011. The book is a major contribution to the historical record of a momentous era of spaceflight.<br><br>Each mission profile includes:<br><br><ul><li>An astronaut narrative that immerses the readers in their personal mission experience</li><li>Data about the mission, crew, launch, landing, duration, and highlights</li><li>Captivating photographs rarely seen by the public</li></ul><br>The Space Shuttle program’s 6 orbiter vehicles (<i>Enterprise</i>, <i>Columbia</i>, <i>Challenger</i>, <i>Discovery</i>, <i>Atlantis</i>, and <i>Endeavour) </i>carried a total of 355 astronauts into orbit on 135 missions aimed at cutting-edge scientific research, satellite launch, retrieval and repair, collaborative work with the Russian <i>Mir</i> station, the launching and servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope, and the construction of the International Space Station. <i>Space Shuttle Stories </i>focuses on the lived, human experiences of larger-than-life space missions. It's a definitive oral history that captures the importance, wonder, and exhilaration of the Space Shuttle era.