Category Archives: Space Shuttle
Redirect: “The Impact of Sally Ride’s Contributions in Space and Education”
On Friday, May 17, 2013, we held at the National Air and Space Museum here in Washington, D.C., a wonderful program on Sally Ride and her place in the history of spaceflight and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. … Continue reading
Reflections on the Loss of STS-107: Ten Years Ago (Redirect)
I posted on the National Air and Space Museum website this morning a reflection of the tenth anniversary of Columbia, STS-107, on February 1, 2003. For those who would like to read this blog post, it is available here.
Remembering the Challenger Seven: 27 Years On
Since the loss of STS-51L took place on this date in 1986 I thought I would reflect on the lives of the crew that was lost in that tragedy. These seven astronauts—including the specialties of pilot, aerospace engineers, and scientists—died … Continue reading
Evening Event: “Caution and Boldness: Balancing Risk in Spaceflight” on February 1, 2013
The Smithsonian Institution’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is holding an event which promises to be interesting—”Caution and Boldness: Balancing Risk in Spaceflight“—on the evening of February 1, 2013. This is an event for the National Air and … Continue reading
What is the Space Shuttle’s Place in Modern American History?
It began with the desire to ensure a continuous human presence in Earth orbit during the post-Moon landing era. The result of this effort has required a continued access to orbit with the Space Shuttle, giving humans the experience of … Continue reading
A Chronology of Space Anniversaries for 2013
Many people have asked what anniversaries are upcoming in 2013 in space history. Here is a quick list. Are there items that I should add to this accounting? 1923—90 years ago December: Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen (The Rocket into … Continue reading
Smithsonian Channel Award-Winning Documentary on the Space Shuttle
I am happy to note that the Smithsonian Channel will air its award-winning documentary, “Space Shuttle: Final Countdown.” I helped with this documentary, and was also interviewed for it. If you do not currently receive the channel, please check here to see … Continue reading
New Study Available: “Toward a History of the Space Shuttle: An Annotated Bibliography Part 2, 1992–2011″
Twenty years ago I compiled with Aaron Gillette an annotated bibliography of the Space Shuttle program entitled Toward a History of the Space Shuttle. We intended it as a starting point for serious historical investigation into the program’s history. At … Continue reading
NASA’s Space Shuttle and the Department of Defense
During the 1970s, the Space Shuttle became the “sine qua non” of NASA, intended as it was to make spaceflight routine, safe, and relatively inexpensive. Although NASA wanted the shuttle for its purposes, the Department of Defense (DOD) agreed to … Continue reading
