MANNED SPACEFLIGHT LOG II

2006-2012

by David J. Shayler and Michael Shayler.

with Foreword by Alfred M. Worden

former NASA astronaut

Manned Spaceflight Log II - 2006-2012 discusses over 40 recent spaceflights from September 2006 through September 2012, a time of great change in human spaceflight history. Following on from Praxis Manned Spaceflight Log - 1961-2006, the authors continue the story until the end of September 2012, with new chapters detailing the development and accomplishments of human spaceflight, expanded tables and additional photographs (many in color) throughout. The book opens with a new foreword by Colonel Alfred M. Worden, USAF Retired, NASA astronaut and CMP of Apollo 15, which reflects on the changing history of human spaceflight and the prospects for future operations.

The first chapter explains how human spaceflight has approached the different challenges of exploring space and provided the hardware to meet those challenges. This chapter also describes the various attempts to reach orbital flight and the often confusing distinction between ballistic, sub-orbital and the so-called 'astro-flights' of the X-15 rocket research aircraft program.

Chapter 2 recalls key historic moments and missions across five decades of human spaceflight. Each decade has provided useful lessons for the next and a foundation for future achievement. The new mission entries are collected in the third section in chronological order. A review of the next steps in human spaceflight, including plans to occupy the International Space Station well into the 2020s and the growth of the Chinese manned space program (including a large space station and planned base on the Moon) is discussed in Chapter 4.

The tables provide a complete up-to-date overview of human spaceflight operations and experience from April 1961 to September 2012 and a selected chronology of important milestones from those years. Completing the book is a comprehensive bibliography that lists all the major Springer-Praxis human spaceflight titles and other important works that provide the reader with a resource to continue further research.