This book will take readers back to a time when the Space Shuttle
represented the dawn of a new age in space travel, a time when the
fabled final frontier was drawing inexorably closer as each year passed.
It details the stories of Challenger's missions from the points of view
of the astronauts, engineers, and scientists who flew and knew her and
the managers, technicians, and ground personnel who designed her and
nursed her from humble beginnings as a structural test article into one
of the most capable Shuttles in NASA's service. Coverage combines
technical esoterica with interviews, stories, and anecdotes from the
lifetime of this remarkable spacecraft. Challenger veterans, including
Gordon Fullerton and Vance Brand, describe their experiences and the
differences between Challenger and her sister ships. The development of
Challenger herself is explored in detail, including her design,
development, construction, and preparation for missions.