Posted on by Jason Rhian

NASA Space Shuttle Owner’s Workshop Manual Book Review

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The shuttle era is ending and when things end people have the tendency to look back and reflect on the trials and tribulations of that period. There are many news books that are being produced that seek to capitalize on this nostalgia – and a few old ones, are being re-released with current and updated information within. One of the more notable efforts is NASA SPACE SHUTTLE Owner’s Workshop Manual.

With modern imagery and text reflective of the program’s long history, the book encapsulates all of the accomplishments that the vehicle’s design allowed to become a reality. The book uses very current information, so much so that it mentions the shooting of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords which took place this past January.

The book provides for a succinct review of the program’s history, its contributions, the setbacks of the Challenger and Columbia disasters as well as other aspects both known and unforeseen of the vehicle’s overall design. Although the book is relatively short, it covers the rationale behind why the space shuttle was designed the way that it was, how the spacecraft launches, flies and lands as well as numerous other facets that comprised the space shuttles’ history.

Written by Dr. David Baker and published by Zenith Press, the book retails for $28 and is well worth the price. With only two flights left before the shuttles are sent to their final resting places in museums and theme parks around the nation this book will make for a great memento of the vehicle that placed the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit, that helped build the International Space Station and that has been the focal point of U.S. human space efforts for the past thirty years.

With the shuttle program ending soon, the book; NASA Space Shuttle Owner's Workshop Manual provides a concise review of the various aspects and impacts that the thirty-year program has had. Photo Credit: Jason Rhian

7 Replies to “NASA Space Shuttle Owner’s Workshop Manual Book Review”

  1. Yes they are a UK Company – they published the Saturn V workshop manual as well which is a very good description of the entire vehicle.

    Is the workshop manual sufficient to maintain a Space Shuttle in operating condition if you are one of the lucks EoL recipitants ?

  2. Hi Folks,

    If you look carefully you will see that the Shuttle Workshop Manual is in fact a Haynes Publication.

    They normally do motor cars and are, I believe, UK based.

    Brian Sheen
    Roseland Observatory.

    1. Hey Brian,

      I had one of their books for my ’98 Mustang. They’re amazing when working on car – if I had the tools and time, I could have taken apart the entire engine and put it back together!

      I think I’ll put this on the ol’ Amazon Wish List!

  4. I just found the “Space shuttle operator’s manual” back between my books. From 1982

  5. I have the Apollo 11 Owner’s Workshop Manual from Haynes. They also have one of the USS Enterprise (yes, Star Trek Enterprise).

  6. Uhhh, not to be a stickler, but if you look ABOVE where it says Haynes – it says Zenith Press (as well as on the inside). Also, I was approached by the staff at Zenith to review the book. Not sure who exactly is the producer Zenith or Haynes??

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