{"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as the world's first spaceplane debuted.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShowcasing over \u003cb\u003e450 unpublished and lesser-known images\u003c\/b\u003e, this book traces the growth of the Space Shuttle from \u003cb\u003e1965 to 1982, from initial concept through its first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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBisney, John:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eJohn Bisney\u003c\/b\u003e is a journalist who has covered the space program for CNN, the Discovery Science Channel, and SiriusXM Radio.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePickering, J. L.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eJ. L. Pickering\u003c\/b\u003e is a spaceflight historian and authority who has been archiving rare space images for 50 years. Together, they have coauthored many books, including \u003ci\u003ePicturing Apollo 11: Rare Views and Undiscovered Moments.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"University of Florida Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50608417177874,"sku":"9781683402053","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1a34ad6e-58fa-46ae-b1ea-65146f6ab846.jpg?v=1732321160","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/picturing-the-space-shuttle-the-early-years-9781683402053","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}