Conference 7.286::space

    I should also mention the "Space Shuttle Operators Manual" (see
    note 373).
    
    The revised edition is virtually the same as the first volume; there
    are now references to the Challenger accident and information about
    the modifications done to the SRBs.
    
    						--Eric--
    
    P.S.  None of my local bookstores had it in stock, so I ordered
    it at Walden's Bookstore in the Auburn (MA) Mall.  They promised
    to get it for me in two weeks - they did it in one week (!) and
    telephoned me when it arrived.  Now THAT'S service!  8^)

    ARCO Aviation Classics "Shuttle Challenger" by David Shayler
    
    64 pg, 10.5" x 14" hardcover
    
    This book is a continuation of a series of books on modern military
    aircraft like the F-15 Eagle, the AV-10 Harrier, the Soviet MiG
    fighters and others.  This one is concerned solely with OV-099 and
    its brief 34-month life, in which time it gained a reputation as
    the hardest-working orbiter in the fleet.
    
    Some nice features of this book:
    
    o - Forward by Astronaut Gordon Fullerton
    o - Complete descriptions of all ten Challenger flights, including
    	a to-the-millisecond description of her final flight.(51-L)
    o - Biographies of every person who flew in the Challenger (for
    	those who go for numerology, the number of people who flew in
    	the Challenger totalled...... 51)
    o - Portraits of all ten Challenger crews - on the ground or in
    	space.
    o - Over 100 color photos, lots of drawings and diagrams.
    o - The cover is dominated by a beautiful top view painting of the
    	orbiter.
    
    Like the book in .0, this is an excellent reference work.  Since
    it deals only with the Challenger, it can concentrate more on the
    men and women who flew her.  At $12.95, it makes an inexpensive
    but very worthy addition to any spaceflight library - just be sure
    your bookshelves are tall enough!  B^)
    
    					--Eric--

    I just picked up an interesting book on the developmental history of
    the space shuttle. It discusses various early programs that provided
    technology and experience for the shuttle program (Navaho, X-20, X-23,
    X-24 etc) and the various shuttle cofigurations that were considered.
    
    Very interesting for space history buffs who like to read about what
    may have been. Probably not so interesting if you just want to read
    about how the shuttle works today.
    
    Space Shuttle: The History of Developing the National Space
    Transportation System
    Auth: Dennis R. Jenkins, 290pp plus 22 pages of appendices
    Pub 1992 by Walsworth Publishing Co. Distributed by Motorbook Int'l.
    ISBN 0-9633974-0-0 softcover  (the suffix becomes -1-9 for hardcover)
    
    I got the softcover edition at Barnes & Nobles, Nashua, $22.45 (list is
    $24.95)
    
    gary

    I heartily second the recommendation in .3.  Jenkins has done
    a very good job in collecting many of the various designs and
    iterations that led to today's Shuttle.  I should note that the book in
    .3 is a follow-on to the earlier work by Jenkins mentioned in .0. 
    He received so much material from folks "who were there" as a result of 
    publishing the Aerofax book that he needed to rethink the narrative,
    and the new book was the result.  Jenkins told Glen Swanson, publisher
    of Quest, that he had enough material to fill a book twice the size of
    the one that eventually got produced.

    He had a bit of an advantage in researching the book, because he works
    for Lockheed Space Operations Co., the shuttle processing contractors.  
    I also think the narrative for this book and the book in .0 is heavily
    influenced by Hallion's "Hypersonic Revolution".  So few people have
    ever seen that document, however, that the point is almost moot.

    The first 120 pages are devoted to shuttle precursors and preliminary
    designs.  Except for some token futures material, the remainder (about
    half) is devoted to shuttle manufacturing, testing, and operations. 
    Like Gary, I definitely favor the precursor stuff.

    Two of the most interesting designs shown in the book are the Lockheed
    Star Clipper, a delta-body orbiter with a giant vee-shaped external
    tank, essentially a stage and a half design, and the Grumman/Boeing 
    proposal to put a straight-winged orbiter with external tanks on a
    Saturn V (S-IC) first stage.  That deign would have had the extra
    advantage of keeping the S-IC in production, thus allowing the country
    to retain at least a nominal heavy-lift launch capability.

Article: 21139
From: [email protected] (DJenkin310)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Book on Space Shuttle History
Date: 21 Jul 1994 09:56:04 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Sender: [email protected]
 
It appears based on many of the messages in this newsgroup that there is a
need for factual information on the history of Shuttle, so I thought I
would mention (a little 'commercial' here) that a couple of years back I
published what most people consider the 'definitive' book on the history
of space shuttle.
 
It is called "Space Shuttle: The History of Developing the National Space
Transportation System" and is available in most book stores, or directly
by snail mail from me for US$24.95 plus postage (and tax in FL).
 
The book is hardcover, 320 pages long, acid-free paper, 1000+ line
drawings, 250+ B&W photos. It details all American concepts (and a few
European and Soviet) for a space shuttle from the 1920's through the 50th
flight of the NSTS.  It also gives a good technical description of the
vehicle, and the many modifications made to it in its first 11 years of
service. I don't cover the actual operational  flights in any great detail
since there are already many excellant publications on the subject.
 
You would be surprised at how the concept evolved over the years. Many
technical details and some political details are covered.
 
I think this would answer many of the questions I see posted in this
newsgroup.
 
If you can not find a copy in your local library or bookstore, please feel
free to email me at:
 
     [email protected]
 
or snail mail at:
 
     Dennis Jenkins
     192 Martesia Way
     Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937
 
     (if you want to order use snail mail and please include a check in USD  
      for $24.95 + $5 S&H, plus FL tax if applicable)
 
Article: 21141
From: [email protected] (DJenkin310)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: New Space Station Book
Date: 21 Jul 1994 09:58:09 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Sender: [email protected]
 
I am working on a new book to detail the history of the SPace Station
program. This will be a companion volume to my history on the SPace Shuttle.
 
If anybody out there has any good information on early space station
projects (such as MORL, MOL, MTSS, etc) from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s,
please get in touch with me. I am trying to cover as much of the early
history as still exists.
 
email me at:
 
      [email protected]
 
snail mail at:
 
      Dennis R. Jenkins
      192 Martesia Way
      Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937
 
THANKS !!!!!