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Bringing Columbia Home

The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew
By Jonathan H. Ward and Michael D. Leinbach
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Bringing Columbia Home provides an in-depth recount of the events following the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. Written by those closely involved, it highlights the efforts of NASA, first responders, and local communities as they work together tirelessly in the recovery and investigation processes. The book captures the emotional journey of resilience and collaboration in the face of a national tragedy.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in space exploration, as it masterfully recounts the challenges and triumphs in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. It provides an inspiring and comprehensive look at the community efforts involved in the recovery and investigation, shining a light on human resilience and teamwork in the face of tragedy.

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Bringing Columbia Home

Voted the Best Space Book of 2018 by the Space Hipsters

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Voted the Best Space Book of 2018 by the Space Hipsters

The dramatic inside story of the epic search and recovery operation after the Columbia space shuttle disaster.

On February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated on reentry before the nation's eyes, and all seven astronauts aboard were lost. Author Mike Leinbach, Launch Director of the space shuttle programme at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, was a key leader in the search and recovery effort. NASA, FEMA, the FBI, the US Forest Service, and dozens more federal, state, and local agencies combed an area of rural east Texas the size of Rhode Island, searching for every piece of the shuttle and her crew they could find. Assisted by hundreds of volunteers, it would become the largest ground search operation in US history.

This comprehensive account is told in four parts:

  • Parallel Confusion Courage
  • Compassion, and Commitment
  • Picking Up the Pieces
  • A Bittersweet Victory

For the first time, here is the definitive inside story of the Columbia disaster and recovery and the inspiring message it ultimately holds. In the aftermath of tragedy, people and communities came together to help bring home the remains of the crew and nearly 40 percent of the shuttle, an effort that was instrumental in piecing together what happened so the shuttle programme could return to flight and complete the International Space Station.

Bringing Columbia Home shares the deeply personal stories that emerged as NASA employees looked for lost colleagues and searchers overcame immense physical, logistical, and emotional challenges, working together to accomplish the impossible. Featuring a foreword and epilogue by astronauts Robert Crippen and Eileen Collins, and dedicated to the astronauts and recovery search personnel who lost their lives, this is an incredible, compelling narrative about the best of humanity in the darkest of times and about how a failure at the pinnacle of human achievement became a story of cooperation and hope.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bringing Columbia Home by Jonathan H. Ward and Michael D. Leinbach has been praised for its detailed and moving account of the efforts to recover and investigate the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Reviewers commend it for capturing the dedication and collaboration of those involved in the aftermath. The book is noted for its emotional depth and insight into the human and technical challenges faced during the recovery operation.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781948924610

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 January 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Arcade Publishing

Contributors:

  • Retired Col. Eileen M. Collins, USAF
  • Foreword by Robert Crippen

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 522g

Pages: 416

Collections

Education & Reference Engineering, Technology & Agriculture Jonathan H. Ward Michael D. Leinbach Non-Fiction Science & Nature

About the Author

Michael D. Leinbach was the last launch director in the space shuttle program at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, responsible for overall shuttle launch countdown activities until the end of the program in 2011. In November 2004, Leinbach was awarded the prestigious 2004 Presidential Rank Award. He lives in Scottsmoor, Florida.

Jonathan H. Ward works to bring the thrill of the space program to life for the general public as a Solar System Ambassador for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and as a frequent speaker on space exploration topics to interest groups and at regional conferences. He is the author of two previous books on space exploration. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Captain Robert L. Crippen, USN, Retired (foreword) was Columbia's first pilot. He received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1960. He has received numerous special honors, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, three Distinguished Service Medals, the US Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the FAA's Award for Distinguished Service, the Goddard Memorial Trophy, the Harmon Trophy, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award, the American Aeronautical Society Flight Achievement Award, the National Geographic Society's Gardiner Greene Hubbard Medal, the Aviation Hall of Fame 1981 Al J. Engel Award, American Legion's Distinguished Service Medal, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Ivan C. Kincheloe Award, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

Colonel Eileen Collins, USAF, Retired (epilogue) became NASA's first female shuttle commander on a 1999 mission in the Columbia. She holds a master's degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University, a master's degree in operations research from Stanford University, and a master's degree in space systems management from Webster University. She is from Elmira, New York.

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