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Bringing Columbia Home
The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew
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Summary
Enhanced by forewords from astronauts Robert Crippen and Eileen Collins, it offers an inspiring testament to human resilience and cooperation amid profound loss and tragedy.
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Format: Hardback
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Bringing Columbia Home
$5499
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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?
This powerful memoir will resonate with readers interested in space exploration, NASA history, and true stories of heroism. It’s especially suited to those seeking insight into the human spirit behind disaster recovery and the technical challenges of space shuttle missions.
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See moreA Powerful Look at a Shared National Disaster and Its Legacy
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
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Description
Timed to release for the 15th Anniversary of the Columbia space shuttle disaster, this is the epic true story of one of the most dramatic, unforgettable adventures of our time.
On February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated on re-entry before the nation's eyes, and all seven astronauts aboard were lost. Author Mike Leinbach, Launch Director of the space shuttle program 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 for every piece of the shuttle and her crew they could find. Assisted by hundreds of volunteers, it became 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. This effort was instrumental in piecing together what happened so that the shuttle program 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. Searchers overcame immense physical, logistical, and emotional challenges and worked 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. It is about how a failure at the pinnacle of human achievement became a story of cooperation and hope.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781628728514
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 08 February 2018
Country: United States
Imprint: Arcade Publishing
Contributors:
- Retired Col. Eileen M. Collins, USAF
- Foreword by Robert Crippen
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 36.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 610g
Pages: 400
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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Bringing Columbia Home
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...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
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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...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
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