Good space shuttle books?

Hi,


What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Books about past shuttle missions are actually what I'm looking for,
but any other books are also OK, as long as they are well written and
have their facts straight and right.
Astronaut biographies and other such stuff is OK as well, as long as
they are more or less related to *space shuttle* (so no Armstrong,
Aldrin, etc., whatever biographies).


Thanks & mee-ow.

SpaceCat
aka
KosmosKitty

"SpaceCat" writes:

Hi,


What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Dennis R. Jenkins, "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space
Transportation System : The First 100 Missions" ISBN 0963397451

Not all that cheap, but it's a very thorough history of the Shuttle's
design, construction, and a review of the first 100 missions.

It's very readable, but it's also reference-quality.

--
Richard W Kaszeta

http://www.kaszeta.org/rich

On 2005-08-09, Richard Kaszeta wrote:
"SpaceCat" writes:

Hi,


What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Dennis R. Jenkins, "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space
Transportation System : The First 100 Missions" ISBN 0963397451

That's the April 2001 US edition; the May 2001 UK printing, by Midland
Publishing, is ISBN 1857801164. Both are pretty much identical, I
believe.

For the original poster - both of these are the third edition of the
book. The first and second contain less material, and notably
significantly less discussion of the original flights. I don't believe
anything in either of the first two was removed for the third - anyone
care to correct me?

For the record:

1st Edition (1992)

Space shuttle: The history of developing the National Space
Transportation System : the beginning through STS-50 / by Dennis R.
Jenkins.

viii, 290, 21 p.

0963397419 (US hardcover?)
0963397400 (US pbk.)

2nd Edition (1996)

Space shuttle: The history of developing the National Space
Transportation System : the beginning through STS-75 / by Dennis R.
Jenkins.

viii, 324, 20 p.

0963397443 (US hardcover?)


--
-Andrew Gray

In message , Andrew Gray
writes
On 2005-08-09, Richard Kaszeta wrote:
"SpaceCat" writes:

Hi,


What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Dennis R. Jenkins, "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space
Transportation System : The First 100 Missions" ISBN 0963397451

That's the April 2001 US edition; the May 2001 UK printing, by Midland
Publishing, is ISBN 1857801164. Both are pretty much identical, I
believe.
Thanks Andrew.
The US edition gets 13 hits on Abebooks, at prices from 11.58 UKP
($19.99) to 208 UKP ($360 !)
The UK edition gets just one hit, at 41 UKP.
--
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.

On 2005-08-09, Jonathan Silverlight
wrote:

That's the April 2001 US edition; the May 2001 UK printing, by Midland
Publishing, is ISBN 1857801164. Both are pretty much identical, I
believe.
Thanks Andrew.
The US edition gets 13 hits on Abebooks, at prices from 11.58 UKP
($19.99) to 208 UKP ($360 !)
The UK edition gets just one hit, at 41 UKP.

Interesting - it cost less than that new! I suspect the only difference
is the price on the back.

--
-Andrew Gray

Jenkin's book is considered the best from a technical standpoint. In
addition I would recommend TA Heppenheimer's Space Shuttle Decision
Vols 1&2. Volume one is available free online from NASA in html form:

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/sp4221.htm

Gene DiGennaro
Baltimore,Md.

"Andrew Gray" wrote in message
. ..
On 2005-08-09, Richard Kaszeta wrote:
"SpaceCat" writes:

Hi,


What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Dennis R. Jenkins, "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space
Transportation System : The First 100 Missions" ISBN 0963397451

That's the April 2001 US edition; the May 2001 UK printing, by Midland
Publishing, is ISBN 1857801164. Both are pretty much identical, I
believe.

For the original poster - both of these are the third edition of the
book. The first and second contain less material, and notably
significantly less discussion of the original flights. I don't believe
anything in either of the first two was removed for the third - anyone
care to correct me?

I'd have to check, but I believe some stuff on Dynasoar and other history
was removed.

(I have all three editions but am too lazy to look it up.)



For the record:

1st Edition (1992)

Space shuttle: The history of developing the National Space
Transportation System : the beginning through STS-50 / by Dennis R.
Jenkins.

viii, 290, 21 p.

0963397419 (US hardcover?)
0963397400 (US pbk.)

2nd Edition (1996)

Space shuttle: The history of developing the National Space
Transportation System : the beginning through STS-75 / by Dennis R.
Jenkins.

viii, 324, 20 p.

0963397443 (US hardcover?)


--
-Andrew Gray

"Greg D. Moore \(Strider\)" wrote in
nk.net:

"Andrew Gray" wrote in message
. ..

For the original poster - both of these are the third edition of the
book. The first and second contain less material, and notably
significantly less discussion of the original flights. I don't believe
anything in either of the first two was removed for the third - anyone
care to correct me?

I'd have to check, but I believe some stuff on Dynasoar and other history
was removed.

You're right. The section on alternative concepts (such as Buran) was
removed as well.


--
JRF

Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.

What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Can I just add to this subject on books?

What books are the best on procedural and technical information? One
thing I'd like is a complete list of space shuttle acronyms as an
appendix. Complete basic procedure checklists would be nice too, as well
as a complete set of cockpit diagrams and associated notes. Thanks,

Daivd

David Findlay wrote:
What space shuttle books would you guys recommend? And why?
Searching for "space shuttle" at Amazon.com returns 883 books... a
couple too much to read (or buy) them all, I guess... :-)

Can I just add to this subject on books?

What books are the best on procedural and technical information? One
thing I'd like is a complete list of space shuttle acronyms as an
appendix. Complete basic procedure checklists would be nice too, as well
as a complete set of cockpit diagrams and associated notes. Thanks,

Daivd

Years ago, when the shuttle first flew there a book called "The Space
Shuttle Operator's Guide". It was like an owner's manual, kinda cool
and informational for its day but probably outdated now. Still, it
offered good interior views.

Gene