Disasters In Space

Examines the failed missions, accidents, and destroyed vehicles of various world space programs, including the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Imagine watching a space shuttle on the launchpad, ready to blast off into orbit. Astronauts have embarked on some of the most amazing adventures and made incredible discoveries. Yet sadly some the most well-planned launches have ended in tragedy. In fifty years of space travel, space disasters have claimed the lives of more than twenty astronauts and one hundred space workers. In two of the worst disasters, space shuttles exploded, killing all the astronauts onboard. With dramatic images and eyewitness accounts—plus the latest facts and figures—this book gives you a close-up look at space disasters.

Here, Dave Shayler examines the hurdles faced by space crews as they prepare and embark on space missions. Divided into six parts, the text opens with the fateful, tragic mission of the Challenger crew in 1986. This is followed by a review of the risks that accompany every space trip and the unique environment in which the space explorer lives and works. The next four sections cover the four parts of any space flight (training, launch, in-flight and recovery) and present major historical incidents in each case. The final section looks at the next forty years beyond the Earth's atmosphere, beginning with the International Space Station and moving on to the difficulties inherent in a manned exploration of Mars.

This title explores the advances engineers have made to prevent space disasters and to minimize their damage. Clear text, compelling images, and helpful sidebars and infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.

The very first book on space systems failures written from an engineering perspective. Focuses on the causes of the failures and discusses how the engineering knowledge base has been enhanced by the lessons learned. Discusses non-fatal anomalies which do not affect the ultimate success of a mission, but which are failures nevertheless. Describes engineering aspects of the spacecraft, making this a valuable complementary reference work to conventional engineering texts.

This series of nonfiction readers will grab a student's interest from the very first page! Designed with struggling readers in mind, these riveting 92-page books offer short chapters on significant disasters. Each chapter is its own mini-book, which includes a timeline, key terms, and interesting facts. Fascinating black and white photographs keep the pages turning. A bibliography encourages further topical reading. Disasters are inherently frightening, riveting, and involving. Grabbed straight from the headlines, these disasters leave tragedy, destruction, and years of anguish: Apollo 1, Apollo 13, Soyuz 11, Challenger, Columbia, Asteroid Collisions, and more.

Examines the events leading to the Apollo 13 explosion, failed Soyuz 11 mission, and the Challenger disaster, the consequences of these accidents, and how they might have been averted.

Being lost is scary. Being lost in space is terrifying. These true tales of surviving a disaster in space follow real astronauts through harrowing ordeals in which they relied on their training, instincts, and courage to survive.