Few do not know of the two US Shuttle losses in the last 20 years. First was 'Challenger' in 1986, followed by 'Colombia' in 2003. It was the 'Colombia' loss that required some real re-thinking of the program and it was several years before the next mission with the 'Discovery' was launched in July of 2005.

The mission was a complete success and showed that the modifications made were successful. It was also a mission on which the photo coverage of the shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) was unprecedented. In order to effectively spot any problems with the 'Discovery', it had to perform a maneuver which allowed the entire surface to be photographed. Those photos and ones taken to examine the ISS are included in this book.

The authors have done a superlative job of providing a photo scrapbook that gives us a look at the training, the spacecraft modifications and preparation, the launch, images taken during the mission and of the return. This is provided in 350 color photos of outstanding quality that put us all right there with the crews.

This stunning presentation is one that I know you'll find just as incredible as did I. It is a book that helps to show the wonder and fascination with the current shuttle program  better than any I've read before. You just have to have this one.

June 2006

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