12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Shuttle book in years !!!, April 10 2011
By alberchico "tupolev" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: NASA Space Shuttle Manual: An Insight into the Design, Construction and Operation of the NASA Space Shuttle (Hardcover)
This book is simply incredible.All aspects of space shuttle operations are detailed in this highly illustrated book. All major components, systems, mission scenarios and living accommodations are described. Those who have the Apollo 11 book will know the level of detail that is included in this book. Only the STS Shuttle book by Jenkins has more technical detail. Highly Recommended !!!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Shuttle Overview with Excellent Pictures, April 25 2011
By Nohr F. Tillman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: NASA Space Shuttle Manual: An Insight into the Design, Construction and Operation of the NASA Space Shuttle (Hardcover)
Very nicely assembled overview of the Shuttle program with lots of facts and figures. It's written in such a manner that anyone could learn the various complex systems of the shuttle, yet offers plenty enough for the technical mind to chew on. By far, this is one of the best color collections of pictures of the Shuttle, Launch Vehicle and surrounding launch complex that I have seen to date.
As with the Haynes Saturn V/Apollo manual, it encompasses the program from top to bottom, nicely touching on everything. Also, as with the other manual, there are so many details not included that just can't all be stuffed into one book that would fit on a bookshelf. It is not a disappointing lack of information at all, though.
The only missing, which I really enjoyed in the Saturn V/Apollo manual, is line-art drawings of the control panels. There are many nice pictures of the interior of the Shuttle, but the line-art is just cleaner to look at from a technical aspect. Perhaps the author couldn't include any because of the different configurations the control panels have had over the various iterations of Shuttle cockpits. It also could be an impossibility since the latest generation glass-panel cockpit is color-screen driven and re-configurable during flight!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I can't stop looking at it, July 12 2011
By MisterStegs - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: NASA Space Shuttle Manual: An Insight into the Design, Construction and Operation of the NASA Space Shuttle (Hardcover)
There's something here for both hard-core geeks and mildly interested afficianados. In one section, you learn about the history of the program, and see all the early concepts of the shuttle. Not a technical explanation, sure -- but very interesting nonetheless. If you're not geeked out by that, never fear -- turn the page and you get an in-depth explanation on how the main engines work. Particularly interesting to me was the breakdown of the countdown to launch. Learn each phase of the launch and what happens as things progress towards liftoff. Plus to top it all off, you get hundreds of pretty pictures of all the internal workings of the shuttle. The program is almost over -- if you're reading this, just buy the book, you won't regret it.
P.S. It's hardcover! I didn't notice that until I received it, what a great surprise!