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Into the Black: The Extraordinary Untold Story of the First Flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Astronauts Who Flew Her Audiobook
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Publisher Description
The real-life techno-thriller from a bestselling author and aviation expert that recaptures the historic moments leading up to the launch of the space shuttle Columbia and the exciting story of her daring maiden flight.
Using interviews, NASA oral histories, and recently declassified material, Into the Black pieces together the dramatic untold story of the Columbia mission and the brave people who dedicated themselves to help the United States succeed in the age of space exploration. On April 12, 1981, NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral. It was the most advanced, state-of-the-art flying machine ever built, challenging the minds and imagination of America’s top engineers and pilots. Columbia was the world’s first real spaceship: a winged rocket plane, the size of an airliner, and capable of flying to space and back before preparing to fly again.
On board were moonwalker John Young and test pilot Bob Crippen. Less than an hour after Young and Crippen’s spectacular departure from the Cape, all was not well. Tiles designed to protect the ship from the blowtorch burn of re-entry were missing from the heat shield. If the damage to Columbia was too great, the astronauts wouldn’t be able to return safely to earth. NASA turned to the National Reconnaissance Office, a spy agency hidden deep inside the Pentagon whose very existence was classified. To help the ship, the NRO would attempt something never done before. Success would require skill, perfect timing, and luck.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, Into the Black is a thrilling race against time and the incredible true story of the first space shuttle mission that celebrates our passion for spaceflight.
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“This remarkable book describes the final (and unpublished) chapter in the ‘Race to the Moon’! Between 1961 and 1963, four groups of astronauts were selected by the USA—three groups were comprised of those pilots who were assigned to NASA and were highly publicized as men who explored the Moon. The fourth group disappeared into the ‘black’ world of the CIA, the NRO, and the Top Secret Air Force ‘Manned Orbiting Laboratory.’ This is the exciting first-told story of these exceptional pilots who only became known publicly during the development and first flights of the Space Shuttle—flights into the real Black of Space.”
— Dave Scott, commander, Apollo 15
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“White has magnificently laid bare the unknown dangers and unseen hazards of that first mission. He has also given us an amazing insight into a world of science and engineering, the victories and defeats, for the first time. It’s the perfect tale that educates as it entertains.”
— Clive Cussler, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“Centuries from now the space shuttle program will be regarded as mankind’s first mighty leap into space, not in a rowboat, but in a truly useful spaceship. White tells it as the great, magnificent adventure it was. A superb book.”
— Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author -
“It’s proper drama and tension only slightly eased by the knowledge that this flight did in fact return safely…When it worked it looked easy. Into the Black shows it was really a white knuckle ride, every time.”
— Times (London) -
“‘The book moves nearly as quickly as the Space Shuttle itself. As I rip through the pages I marvel at the bravery, resourcefulness, and ingenuity of everyone concerned. They really did have the right stuff.”
— Daily Mail (London) -
“Eric Meyers capably delivers this history of NASA’s Space Shuttle program…His voice is smooth and expressive…[and] radiates enthusiasm. He consistently presents an engaging narrative and deftly switches to individual voices for quotes.”
— AudioFile
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About Rowland White
Rowland White is a British author whosefirst book, Vulcan 607, was published by Bantam Press in 2006. It was followed in 2009 by Phoenix Squadron and, in 2010, Storm Front, about the Dhofar War in Oman in the early seventies. All three were Sunday Times top-ten bestsellers and are now available in paperback and ebook.
His writing has appeared British national newspapers including the Guardian, Daily Mail and The Sun, Esquire magazine, and a wide range of aviation magazines including Aeroplane Monthly, Fly Past and Aircraft Illustrated. A documentary based on Vulcan 607 called Falklands’ Most Daring Raid was shown on Channel 4 in March 2012.
About Eric Meyers
Eric Meyers, an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator, is a well-known character actor and voice artist. His film credits include Entrapment, Snatch, and 1408. He has created many voices for animation, including Henry the Lizard on the hit television series Amazing Animals. He is often heard narrating documentary films on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.