Author: Baker, David Technology, engineering, agriculturePublished on 30 March 2011 by HAYNES PUBLISHING GROUP (J H Haynes & Co Ltd) in the United Kingdom.Hardback | 200 pages, 240 Illustrations, unspecified214 x 278 x 16 | 890g Designed between 1969 and 1972 and first flown into space in 1981, the NASA Shuttle will have flown almost 140 missions by the time it is retired in 2010. David Baker describes the origin of the reusable launch vehicle concept during the 1960s, its evolution into a viable flying machine in the early 1970s, and its subsequent design, engineering, construction and operation. The Shuttle's internal layout and systems are explained, including the operation of life support, electrical power production, cooling, propulsion, flight control, communications, landing and avionics systems. 'an astrogeek's insider dream' www.sciencebase.com