Winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize; a breathtaking elegy to the waning days of human spaceflight as we have known itIn the 1960s; humans took their first steps away from Earth; and for a time our possibilities in space seemed endless. But in a time of austerity and in the wake of high-profile disasters like Challenger; that dream has ended. In early 2011; Margaret Lazarus Dean traveled to Cape Canaveral for NASA's last three space shuttle launches in order to bear witness to the end of an era. With Dean as our guide to Florida's Space Coast and to the history of NASA; Leaving Orbit takes the measure of what American spaceflight has achieved while reckoning with its earlier witnesses; such as Norman Mailer; Tom Wolfe; and Oriana Fallaci. Along the way; Dean meets NASA workers; astronauts; and space fans; gathering possible answers to the question: What does it mean that a spacefaring nation won't be going to space anymore?
#75835 in Books 1988-01-04 1988-01-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.48 x 5.38l; 1.66 #File Name: 0155076825656 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. it is good to find some Classics aboundBy Joan HarrisIn a STEM world; it is good to find some Classics abound.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great CollectionBy ThomasThis is a great collection of literature from the ancient; western world. It gives great insight how are ideas and culture has evolved. Both the stories I have read this far were well translated from their original language to ours.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerAmazing like new
