{"product_id":"saving-columbia-lost-opportunity-to-save-seven-astronauts-paperback","title":"Saving Columbia: Lost Opportunity to Save Seven Astronauts - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMarshall H. Kaplan\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"This is a riveting story of a space rescue which never happened but could have. The loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew was a national tragedy. In this fictional alternative history, tragedy is averted and the crew saved.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn January 16, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia launched on mission STS-107, carrying seven astronauts and a full schedule of scientific experiments. Shortly after liftoff, a piece of foam struck the shuttle's left wing. Unknown to the crew, the impact fatally compromised the thermal protection system required for reentry. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside NASA's Mission Control in Houston, engineers began to suspect that Columbia might not survive the return to Earth. As evidence mounted, a terrifying realization emerged: the astronauts could be stranded in orbit. With only days before the shuttle would have to attempt reentry, NASA leadership confronted an unprecedented question--could Columbia's crew be rescued? Engineers proposed a daring plan: launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on an emergency mission, rendezvous with Columbia in orbit, and transfer the crew through a dangerous EVA between the two spacecraft. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e What follows is a gripping race against time--driven by frantic engineering analyses, launch-pad emergency preparations, mounting political pressure from Washington, and the courage of astronauts willing to risk everything. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Drawing heavily on real NASA procedures, shuttle operations, and the historical events surrounding STS-107, Saving Columbia explores the dramatic \"what if\" scenario of the rescue mission that might have been. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eREVIEWS and WORDS OF PRAISE\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSaving Columbia\u003cem\u003e is a riveting story of a space rescue which never happened but could have. It is told in such detail that the narrative is an in-depth experience in space technology and space policy. The loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew was a national tragedy. This fictional alternative history where tragedy is averted and the crew saved by one of the nation's foremost space experts is a must read.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e --Robert S. Walker, Former Chairman, House Science Committee and National Space Policy Leader, and former Chair of the President's Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eExceptional ...many of the lessons cited here were implemented on shuttle flights after STS-107. All the possible rescue options are addressed. As pointed out, an expedited shuttle rescue would have involved many \"firsts.\" Well done.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e --Dr. James Peters, Former Shuttle Debris Integration Chair responsible for correcting the problems that led to the Columbia Accident on STS-107 and returning the shuttle Fleet to operational flight status. He also published \u003cem\u003eReturn to Flight: Inside NASA's Space Shuttle Missions in the Wake of the Columbia Disaster\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 178\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.38 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 15, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57193924395313,"sku":"9781965922439","price":37.37,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1004\/9532\/7537\/files\/pBiSQn6JA79781965922439.webp?v=1793325065","url":"https:\/\/mitchellofficial.com\/products\/saving-columbia-lost-opportunity-to-save-seven-astronauts-paperback","provider":"MITCHELL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}