CHAPTER 6
SPACE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS

Arrington, James P., and Jones, Jim J. Comps. Shuttle Performance: Lessons Learned. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1983. 2 Vols. This is a collection of papers given at a conference on the Shuttle held at Langley Research Center on 8-10 March 1983 for the purpose of ascertaining the operational performance of the Shuttle after its first missions into orbit. It has several papers dealing with a number of broad areas: ascent aerodynamics; entry aerodynamics; guidance, navigation, and control; aerothermal environment; thermal protection; and measurements and analyses.

Carrillo, Manuel J. A Development of Logistics Management Models for the Space Transportation System. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corp., 1983. This study reviews procedures and sets priorities and policies for the support of Shuttle operations.

Case, Ed. "We Have Lift Off": History and Photos of Shuttle Launches. Palm Bay, FL: E. Case, 1989. Collection of photos of Shuttle launches, some of them striking, with a little text about the launches.

Covault, Craig. "Aerobatics at Mach 25." Science 81. 2 (May 1981): 58-63. A short article on the first Shuttle mission in 1981.

Covault, Craig. "Planners Set Long-Term Space Goals." Aviation Week & Space Technology. 9, March, 1981, pp. 75-78. This article reports on NASA and other Federal Government leaders' efforts to assess the direction of the space program for the future as the Shuttle begins its operational phase.

Covault, Craig. "Shuttle Management Shifting to Operations." Aviation Week & Space Technology. 21 December 1981, pp. 12-15. This article reviews the process of change taking place in NASA as it moved from an RDT&E stance with the Shuttle to one oriented toward flying operational missions.

Dawson, Harry S. Review of Space Shuttle Requirements, Operations, and Future Plans. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, 1984. This report deals with the past and prospects for the Shuttle during its early operational life. It is optimistic but still not sanguine that NASA would be able to make it cost effective. This report was prepared by the House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications.

General Accounting Office. Space Program: Space Debris a Potential Threat to Space Station and Shuttle. Washington, DC: General Accounting Office, 1990. This report, written for the chair of U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, deals with the problem of orbiting junk and its potential hazard to the Shuttle and other flight operations in the next five years.

Gore, Rick. "When the Space Shuttle Finally Flies." National Geographic. 159 (March 1981): 317-47. In an article containing an abundance of this publication's trademark photographs, Gore offers an assessment of the development of the Shuttle through its first mission.

Gurney, Gene, and Forte, Jeff. The Space Shuttle Log: The First 25 Flights. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Aero Books, 1988. Briefly covers each of the first 25 flights of the Shuttle in chronological order. Each mission begins with a flight detail entry covering the basics of the missions, personnel, payload, experiments, etc. Nothing in this book is really new.

Kolcum, Edward H. "Managers Modernize Shuttle System to Increase Efficiency, Launch Rate." Aviation Week & Space Technology. 4 December 1989, pp. 46-48. This article focuses on the efforts of Robert L. Crippen, astronaut and manager of the Shuttle program, to reorganize his function to ensure safe and reliable operations.

Lewis, Richard S. The Voyages of Columbia: The First True Spaceship. New York: Columbia University Press, 1984. Taking as its theme that the Shuttle is the first true spaceship- -one that can be reused and makes access to space more routine-- this book provides a good rendition of the development and use of the Columbia orbiter. A large-format, well-written publication, it has numerous photographs and illustrations, as well as scholarly notes. There is much discussion of development and testing, procedures for operations such as solid-rocket booster use and recovery, and a detailed account of each mission. Probably the best book of its type, its focus and theme is limited to a single orbiter and its role in the space program.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Space Transportation System User Handbook. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, June 1977, rev. ed. May 1982. This loose-leaf booklet explains the Shuttle's development and uses. It describes the types of user support it was designed for and offers some pricing background.

Oberg, Alcestis R. "After the Parades." Final Frontier. September/October 1990, pp. 43-48, 58-59. This article describes the little-known or little-noticed efforts to refurbish the Shuttle orbiters after each flight. After flight they are in terrible condition and are sent to a Shuttle garage for a complete overhaul. The author details the work done on the various systems, etc., to get the spacecraft ready to fly again.

Overbye, Dennis. "The Shuttle Comes of Age." Discover. June 1982, pp. 61-64. Published just after the first few operational flights of the Shuttle, this short article assesses for a popular audience the importance of the craft for the United States.

Phillips, W. Pelham. Space Shuttle Orbiter Trimmed Center-of- Gravity Extension Study. Hampton, VA: Langley Research Center, 1984. This is one of several technical studies undertaken during this period to correct for flight characteristics of the Shuttle.

Powell, Joel W. and Caldwell, Lee Robert. The Space Shuttle Almanac: A Comprehensive Overview of the First Ten Years of Space Shuttle Operations. Calgary, Alberta: Microgravity Press, 1992. This reference tool offers an overview of Space Shuttle operations, facilities, hardware, and missions for the Shuttle's first 39 flights. Using information culled mainly from various NASA publications, the authors describe the orbiter, discuss each mission flown, and provide detail on payloads, experiments, and crew.

Results of Space Shuttle Flight 41-C. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, 1984. This contains hearings about this Shuttle flight held on 15 May 1984.

Results of Space Shuttle Flight 41-D. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, 1984. This contains hearings about this Shuttle flight held on 25 September 1984.

Results of Space Shuttle Flight 61-C. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, 1986. This contains hearings about this Shuttle flight held on 23 September 1986.

Results of the Space Shuttle Discovery Mission. Washington, DC: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 1988. This publication reports on the hearings of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space held on 13 October 1988.

Space Shuttle Payloads: Hearing Before the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. Washington, DC: U.S. Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 30-31 October 1973. This two-part publication reviews the Shuttle's possible missions in the 1980s.

Space Shuttle Requirements, Operations, and Future Plans. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, 1984. This consists of the hearings on the subject before the subcommittee on Space Science and Applications of the 98th Cong., 2d Sess.

Space Shuttle Transportation System: Press Information. Downey, CA: Rockwell International, February 1981. This publication contains facts and information about the Shuttle for the media. It has been issued periodically since the system first began operation, updating certain aspects of the program.

Stockton, William, and Wilford, John Noble. Spaceliner: Report on Columbia's Voyage into Tomorrow. New York: Times Books, 1981. This is a popular discussion of the development and flight of the first Shuttle mission, Columbia, in 1981. It is heavy on fast-paced narrative and anecdotes, and thin on documentation. It keeps the human element of the story in the forefront, and while there is some discussion of technological developments, those are certainly subservient to the good story the authors try to tell.

Trippett, Frank. "Milk Run to the Heavens." Time. 12 January 1981, pp. 10ff. A well-done news story with characteristic striking photography, this article describes the use of the Shuttle for routine operations. No longer would space flight be a difficult venture, but one that is, as the writer said, a "milk run."