Dr. Tom Jones

Although the shuttles retired a dozen years ago, what they taught America and NASA about complex operations in space remains the foundation of work on the International Space Station and plans to return to the Moon. What we know how to do well today in space, we learned on the shuttle. .

In collecting the stories of more than 135 astronauts who flew the shuttle, Dr. Tom Jones heard in detail how the orbiter crews and the launch and Mission Control teams mastered these techniques. He listened in awe as his astronaut colleagues related how they coped with — and overcame — the inevitable, unexpected, and sometimes frightening challenges that threatened their missions. Who would have dreamed of “brain surgery” on Hubble by space-suited astronauts? How did we pull off some of the most improbable satellite rescues in space history? What did the shuttles do in orbit that helped us win the Cold War? Jones will combine some of these stories with vivid space images to highlight the human role in the shuttle’s success.

When explorers return to the Moon, we are sure to face similar challenges. By examining these 135 Space Shuttle stories, we can learn how this iconic spacecraft taught us how to prepare for the unexpected, and succeed in the unforgiving environment of deep space.