Space Shuttle Operator's Manual, Revised Edition

Rating:
Summary: A fun look at the space shuttle
Review: I commend the person whose idea it was to come up with this book. It provides an overview of the space shuttle's systems as well as some of the tasks of the crew.

I enjoyed the book's fold out pages of the space shuttle control panels. The launch checklist and systems schematics were of particular interest for me as well.

While it's fun to look at every once and awhile, I would have liked more detail on the space shuttle systems. Also, while the book offers some explanations regarding individuals steps in the launch sequence, I would have liked more information on each step. I think the title, "The Space Shuttle Operator's Manual," is a tad bit ambitious since it's such a cursory look at the space shuttle. Nevertheless, I still consider it educational.

Overall, I think those whoare interested in the space shuttle will get something out of this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Shuttle Reference
Review: This book is the best overview and reference manual on the shuttle. As you can see from the "Look Inside" function, and by the index, it covers the whole nine yards. It focuses specifically on the orbiter, and covers all aspects of shuttle missions from launch to landing.

As an aspiring sci-fi writer, I found this book to be the perfect reference. It has raw statistics, such as orbiter length, cargo bay volume, and it even goes over the meals and menus and how they are prepared. It also goes in to the history of the orbiters, and the names of the ever shrinking shuttle fleet.

Several sections deal with the now-defunct Spacelab modules. The Spacelab was the shuttle equivalent of a camper shell that sat in the cargo bay. It turned the shuttle into a mini space-station, and had several interchangeable modules. One section was a pressurized module with a battery of experiments, which was connected to the shuttle cockpit. Other sections included a multi-use pallet, and an experimental pallet. This Spacelab was retired in 1997, and has been replaced by the Spacehab modules, which was on the Columbia when it broke-up over Texas.

This book is written in the normal "Basic English" of instruction manuals, and can be understood by elementary school children. It also has many diagrams and pictures, which save many thousands of words of descriptions.

By the way, this book does explain how the space lavatory. In case you are curious, it is a normal commode with vacuum suction, although I have heard stories that it can smell at times.

This book's one weakness is that it is a bit impersonal. If you want to know about the emotions and reactions to life in spaces, another book may be better, such as Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff," of Homer Hickam's "Back to the Moon.". As you read this book, you must supply your own excitement and emotion to this book, since it is an operator's manual. It reads a bit like an encyclopedia, or dictionary, and not a novel.

After reading and referencing this book, I felt as if I had been on board!

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Summary: So, You Want To Be An Astronaut?
Review: This is the best book on how to live, work, and live in space. It tells you all about the buttons, the menus, the toilets, the suits, etc. It even has like 7 pages for the launch with the dialogues and everything starting at T-minus 5 hours to T+plus 48 minutes. It has the same for landing, too. It tells you what's inside the shuttle, and where the stuff is located. It even describes certain space missions like Spacelab, and more! If you want to study space shuttles and become an astronaut, this book is a must! I love it! I can't stop putting it down!