INDEX

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• Abbey, George, 63–66, 83, 90–92, 103, 105, 108, 109, 111, 129–30, 140, 144, 152–53, 156, 226, 276, 277
  • Challenger STS-51-L and, 294, 337, 338, 342, 348
  • Challenger STS-51-L disaster and, 355, 357, 361–63, 372, 374, 378, 405, 414, 416, 426, 428
  • crew selection by, 144, 148, 150–54, 229
  • post-Challenger life of, 450, 456
  • Smith and, 267–68
• Abbey, Joyce, 109
• ABC, 31–32, 213, 317, 360, 404
• Abernathy, Ralph, 30–31
• Abort to Orbit (ATO), 155, 241-2
• Adams, Freida, 47–49, 51
• Adams, Mike, 47–51
• Agnew, Spiro, 29
• Air and Space Museum, 90
• Air Force, US, 37, 41, 42, 45, 51, 72, 161, 257
  • Dwight in, 73–77
  • transport planes of, 80
• Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS), 44, 73, 74, 76
• Air Force Association, 42
  • Space Shuttle and, 59, 60, 64–66
• Air Force One, 81
• Air Force Space Division, 194–95
• Air Force Test Pilot School, 80
• Air Force Water Survival School, 105
• Aldrich, Arnie, 303, 310, 311, 331–32, 341–42, 346, 348, 385, 409
• Aldrin, Buzz, 28, 30, 38, 55, 64, 76, 112, 194, 455
• Allen, Joe, 139, 213–15
• Allen, Woody, 218
• American Airlines, 142
• American Association of University Women, 83
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 181
• Ames Research Center, 36, 108
• Anders, Bill, 218–19
• Andrews Air Force Base, 149
• “Apocalypse” letter, 417–18, 457
• Apollo 1, 7–21
  • fire and death of crewmembers in, 7, 20–21, 22–23, 25–27, 29, 30, 51, 60, 62, 94, 115, 340, 369, 377, 416, 436, 444, 446
    • flammable materials in cockpit, 11–14, 24
    • investigation of, 23–25, 60, 377, 380
    • oxygen in cockpit, 12–14, 17, 19, 24
  • hatch design of, 11, 24
  • launch date for, 14–15, 18
  • North American Aviation and, 9–14, 17, 24, 26
  • plugs-out test of, 16–21
  • radio communication problems in, 19
  • Readiness Review meeting for, 9–11, 13
• Apollo 8, 29, 52, 266
• Apollo 10, 34
• Apollo 11 moon landing, 28–30, 38, 54, 55, 64, 112, 119, 121, 139, 156, 187, 194, 223, 243, 340
• Apollo 12, 298
• Apollo 13, 30, 64, 183, 212, 243, 266, 340, 377
• Apollo 15, 31
• Apollo 17, 27–28, 31–32
• Apollo program, 10, 32, 33, 37, 38, 43, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 62, 64, 66, 82, 83, 103, 104, 108, 147, 154, 156, 159, 172, 188, 190, 248, 340, 379, 444
  • Apollo 1 fire’s effect on, 25–26, 115, 444
  • congressional hearings on, 25–27
  • cost of, 29–32, 52, 53
  • end of, 28
  • equipment failures and narrow escapes in, 30
  • moneymaking schemes by astronauts in, 31
  • public attitudes toward, 28–32
  • risk assessment of, 168–69
  • unmanned tests in, 122
• Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 426
• Armstrong, Neil, 28–30, 38, 45, 55, 64, 112, 153, 188, 194, 223
  • on Rogers Commission, 382, 408, 433
• Army, US, 283
• Ascent Events List, 2
• Association for Women in Science, 83
• Astronaut Arrival ritual, 295
• Astronaut Candidates (AsCans), 102–11, 115–16, 150
• Astronaut Office, 22, 66, 103, 104, 107, 146, 147, 150–53, 372, 401, 427
• astronauts
  • civilian, 70
  • as democracy ambassadors, 71
  • moral standards and, 147–48
  • public image of, 31
  • qualification criteria for, 65, 66, 72, 78–79, 82, 91
    • height, 82
    • medical and physiological, 91, 149, 221, 235–36
    • military background, 65, 66, 72
    • psychological, 236
  • Space Shuttle, see Space Shuttle astronauts
• Aviation Week & Space Technology, 123, 444

• B-52 bombers, 45, 81
• Bagian, Jim, 152–53, 401, 413, 414
• Bailey, Terry, 411–12
• ballistic missiles, 35–36, 41, 160
  • Titan, 41, 59, 161, 163, 164, 165, 204
• Baltimore Afro-American, 74
• Barbree, Jay, 380
• Barksdale Air Force Base, 51
• Bartholomew, Charles “Black Bart,” 400, 402–5, 423, 425
• Beach House, 299
• Bean, Alan, 84, 103
• Beggs, James M., 141–42, 176–78, 204, 231–33, 269, 282–84, 360, 380, 399
  • citizen astronauts and, 218–20, 227–29, 237
  • grand jury investigation of, 282, 38
  • Nelson and, 276
  • post-Challenger life of, 450
  • superstition of, 183
• Bell Aircraft Corporation, 41
• Bluford, Guy, 146, 151, 153, 174–75
• Boeing 747, 81
• Boisjoly, Roberta, 250
• Boisjoly, Roger, 245–62, 273, 289, 442
  • Challenger disaster and, 359
  • Challenger disaster investigation and, 383–84
  • at Hangar AF, 245, 246, 252–54, 312, 329
  • O-ring concerns of, 251–62, 271–72, 311–13, 319, 323–29, 331, 408, 430
    • Challenger launch and, 347, 349, 350
  • post-Challenger life of, 450
  • post-traumatic stress disorder of, 442
  • at Rockwell, 248–50
  • Rogers Commission testimony of, 395, 396, 398, 404, 408, 430, 432
    • Thiokol and, 432, 441–42
  • “smoking gun” memos of, 384, 395, 408, 464
  • Thiokol sued by, 442–43
• Bolden, Charlie, 146–47, 289, 376
  • post-Challenger life of, 451
• Bolden, Jackie, 146
• Boy Scouts, 218
• Brady, James, 4
• Brandenstein, Dan, 130, 131, 133–34, 151, 225–28
• Brezhnev, Leonid, 101–2
• Bridges at Toko-Ri, The (Michener), 267–68
• Brigham City, UT, 160, 165
• Brinton, Boyd, 311–13
• Brokaw, Tom, 129, 380
• Brown, Harold, 101
• Buchanan, Pat, 359, 366
• Buran, 102
• Bush, George H. W., 237, 260, 298, 305–6, 366, 370, 371
• Butterworth, Bill, 209–11, 225–27
• Butterworth, Jenny, 225

• Cain, LeRoy, 448
• CapCom (Capsule Communicator), 94, 116, 130, 138, 139, 151, 346, 352, 443
• Cape Canaveral, 16, 53, 54, 155, 156, 189, 203, 211, 231–34, 243, 256, 257, 273, 284, 295, 299, 340, 347, 379, 390, 404, 426, 444
  • Astronaut Candidates at, 108
  • Challenger and, 143, 183–84, 227
    • STS-51-L mission, 238, 293, 294, 295, 304, 307, 308, 310, 323, 325, 330, 331, 340, 356, 360, 367
  • Columbia and, 113, 116, 118, 119, 127–30, 173
  • Launch Control Center at, 16, 129, 130, 183, 198, 200, 236, 289, 290, 292, 294
    • Challenger STS-51-L and, 299, 303, 304, 307, 308–10, 335, 337, 338, 341, 343, 344, 346–47, 350, 354, 356, 361, 363, 364
  • Nelson and, 276
  • solid rocket booster assembly at, 159, 162, 163, 166, 168–72
  • Vehicle Assembly Building at, 123, 159, 169, 170, 172, 247, 270, 286, 305, 306, 347, 399
  • weather at, 247, 303, 305, 307, 310–13
  • see also Kennedy Space Center
• Carbonated Beverage Dispenser Evaluation, 238
• Carson, Johnny, 216–17, 243
• Carter, Jimmy, 78, 94, 100–102, 119–21, 123, 124, 128
  • Iran hostage crisis and, 121, 128
• Carter, Sonny, 340, 362, 427, 437, 439
• CBS, 4, 28, 31–32, 317, 360
• CBS Evening News, 13
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 44, 59
• Cernan, Gene, 23, 27–28, 31–32, 66, 76, 229, 237
• Cernan, Teresa Dawn, 28
• Chaffee, Martha, 7, 8, 15–16, 22, 23
• Chaffee, Roger, 7–8, 15–16
  • on Apollo 1 mission, 7–13, 15–21
    • death in, 7, 20–21, 22–27, 29, 30, 60, 94, 369, 377, 426
  • burial of, 23
• Chaffee, Sheryl, 23
• Chaffee, Stephen, 23
• Chaikin, Andrew, 190
• Challenger Center for Space Science Education, 443
• Church of Latter Day Saints, 160, 247
• CIA, 44, 59
• Citizens in Space Task Force, 217–19
• civil rights movement, 29, 30, 71, 74
• Clear Lake, 63, 91, 94, 102, 111, 112, 115, 135, 145, 146, 148, 150, 215, 244, 274, 280, 370–71, 374, 379
• Clear Lake High School, 145
• Cleveland Call and Post, 74
• clevis-and-tang joints, 163, 164, 166, 167, 170, 255, 381, 392
• Clifford, Sophia, 230
• Clinton, Bill, 456
• CNN, 2, 343, 348, 352, 355, 360, 366, 385
• Coast Guard, 400–402, 425
• Cobb, Geraldyn “Jerrie,” 67–69, 71
• Coca-Cola, 238
• Cochran, Jacqueline, 67, 69
• Cold War, 29, 32, 41, 43–44, 160, 231–32, 444
• cold weather, 321
  • Challenger STS-51-L launch and, 337, 367, 368, 385, 386, 388, 389
    • booster rocket temperature, 337–38, 345
    • launchpad ice, 311, 325, 333–34, 337–41, 343, 345, 349
  • O-rings and, 253–57, 259, 262, 392, 393
    • Challenger STS-51-L disaster and, 349–51, 381, 384
    • Challenger STS-51-L launch concerns about, 297, 300–301, 303–7, 310–20, 321–32, 335–36, 430, 436
    • Discovery STS-51-C and, 247, 253–55, 303–4, 311, 313, 324, 329
    • Feynman’s ice water demonstration on, 393–94
• Collins, Michael, 7, 22, 55, 90, 281–82
• Collins, Pat, 281
• Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 449
• Concord High School, 223, 350
• Concord Monitor, 221
• Congress, 105, 115, 376, 380
  • Apollo program hearings of, 25–27
  • NASA budget cut by, 52, 53
  • Space Shuttle funding and, 57–58, 61
• Congressional Committee on Science and Astronautics, 69
• Constitution, US, 418
• contingency abort, 155
• Corlew, Johnny, 309, 310, 317, 339, 340
• Corrigan, Ed and Grace, 222, 297, 299, 302, 342, 350, 354, 357, 358, 362, 375–76
• Covey, Dick, 3, 103, 346
• Crippen, Bob, 105, 116, 122, 123, 127, 129–39, 141, 151, 183, 236, 378, 399–402, 412, 420, 436, 444, 446
  • post-Challenger life of, 451
• Crippen, Ginny, 225
• Cronkite, Walter, 13, 219, 291
• Culbertson, Frank, 286, 362
• Cunningham, Stephen, 209–11

• Daily Defender, 75
• Dallas, 149
• Dallas Morning News, 285
• Dawber, Pam, 229
• Defense Department, 44, 72
  • Discovery and, 244–45, 268
• DeLorean, John, 282
• Denver, John, 219
• Devlin, Jim, 318–19
• Devlin, John, 412–13, 418, 420
• Dornberger, Walter, 40–42, 55
• Dover Air Force Base, 428
• Drake, Francis, 369–70
• Dream Is Alive, The, 228
• Dribin, Lee, 387
• Dwight, Edward Joseph, 73–77
• Dyna-Soar, 41–43, 60
• Dyson, Freeman, 218

• Easterbrook, Gregg, 122
• Easter Island, 155
• Ebeling, Bob, 272–73, 312–14, 347, 349, 350, 430, 432
  • post-Challenger life of, 451
• Ebony, 83
• Edwards Air Force Base, 47, 48, 50, 73, 74, 79, 80, 82, 184, 204, 376, 443
  • Columbia and, 138, 140, 142
• Eglin Air Force Base, 401
• Eisenhower, Dwight, 43
• Elizabeth II, Queen, 23
• Ellington Field, 93, 102, 145, 372, 375
• Empire State Building, 374
• Enterprise (originally Constitution), 62, 95–96
• Equal Employment Opportunity Act, 65
• Essence, 83
• Ethiopia, 276–77
• European Space Agency, 114, 232

• F-1 engine, 159
• Faget, Max, 11, 34–38, 42, 61, 156, 158
  • capsules designed by, 35–37, 43, 60
  • Columbia and, 130, 132, 134, 137, 138
  • family background and early life of, 35
  • Lee and, 56
  • in Space Shuttle design and development, 34, 37–38, 57, 60–62, 98, 130, 137, 447
• Fairchild Industries, 158
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 248–49
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 282, 410, 434
• Feynman, Richard, 391–92
  • cancer and death of, 391, 420, 449
  • engine presentation requested by, 421–22
  • on Rogers Commission, 382, 389, 391–94, 396, 408, 420–22, 433
    • Appendix F for, 433, 449–50
    • ice water demonstration in, 393–94
• Fisher, Anna, 92, 93, 103, 117, 151, 213, 267
• Fisher, Bill, 92
• Fixed-Base Simulator, 109
• Fixed Service Structure, 325
• Fletcher, James, 32–33, 65, 95, 96, 431
• Flight 981 crash, 249–50, 261
• Flight Control Room, 1, 2, 137, 139, 140, 236, 345, 351, 371
• Flight Dynamics Officer, 130–31, 139, 345–46, 351, 356
• Flight Readiness Reviews, 175–79, 202–4, 207–8, 230, 251, 417
  • solid rocket boosters and, 178–79, 208, 254, 255, 257, 260
  • for Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L, 300–301, 303, 322–32, 393, 430
• Florida Today, 212
• Fonda, Jane, 231, 298
• Ford, Gerald, 65, 78
• Ford Foundation, 87
• Fox, Michael J., 279
• Frank, Richard, 101
• Freedom of Information Act, 427
• Freedom Star, 245, 319, 321
• Frenchie’s, 280
• Frosch, Robert, 100–101, 113, 115, 121, 123–24, 128, 218
• Funk, Scott, 303
• Fuqua, Don, 95, 298, 306

• Gaddafi, Muammar, 374
• Gagarin, Yuri, 9, 42–43, 71
• Gallup poll, 55
• Gardner, Dale, 151, 214, 215
• Garn, Jake, 227, 298, 370
• Garrison, Ed, 395
• Gemini program, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 26, 33, 43, 46, 82, 104, 189, 281
  • unmanned tests in, 122
• General Dynamics, 141, 282, 283
• General Electric (GE), 14, 54, 168–69
• Germany, 40–41, 158
• Gibson, Robert “Hoot,” 148, 189, 190, 276, 284, 289
• Gilruth, Robert, 37
• Girl Scouts, 222, 224
• Glenn, John, 9, 46, 70, 71, 76, 90, 147, 221, 243, 370
• Graham, Bill, 283–84, 290, 291, 298, 301, 303, 304, 306, 360, 366–68, 370, 376, 380–82, 384–85, 387, 388, 391, 431
• gravity, zero, 78, 110, 187, 275
• Great Salt Lake, 160
• Greene, Jay, 345–46, 351, 353, 355–56, 358
• Gregory, Fred, 145, 152, 375, 415
• Grissom, Betty, 436, 440
• Grissom, Gus, 8
  • on Apollo 1 mission, 8–10, 12–21
    • death in, 20–21, 22–27, 29, 30, 60, 94, 369, 377, 426, 436
  • burial of, 23
• Grissom, Mark, 10
• Grumman Corporation, 52

• Hall, Bruce, 317
• Halley’s Comet, 277, 290, 293
• Hardy, George, 159, 172, 173, 271, 315, 322, 323, 327, 330, 451
• Harris, Hugh, 347, 349
• Hart, Jane B., 68–69
• Hartsfield, Henry “Hank,” 197–200, 416
• Hauck, Rick, 108, 116, 148, 151, 212–15
• Hawley, Steve, 148, 150
• Heisig, Kurt, 185, 186, 191
• Henize, Karl, 241–42
• Hercules, Inc., 181
• Hetzel Shoal, 411, 412, 415, 420
• Hexagon, 59
• “High Flight” (Magee), 281, 282, 366, 370
• Hitler, Adolf, 40, 158
• Hollings, Ernest, 434
• Holz, Robert, 444
• Homestead Air Force Base, 107
• Houston, Cecil, 314–15, 321–22, 328, 331–32
• Houston Chronicle, 112
• Houston Post, 416
• Howard, Jenny, 239–42, 261
• Hubble Space Telescope, 290–91
• Hughes Aircraft Company, 193–96, 209–11, 225–26, 275–76, 300, 337
• Hughes Research Labs, 84, 88–89
• Huntsville, AL, 53–54, 157, 159, 166, 171–73, 178, 179, 182, 208, 224, 272, 300, 378, 379, 381, 384, 387, 404, 417, 432
  • see also Marshall Space Flight Center
• Hurricane Alicia, 267
• Husband, Rick, 446–48
• Hutchinson, Neil, 130–32, 134
• hydrogen, 96–98, 168, 333
• hypersonic planes, 35, 42–46, 56, 81, 98
  • X-15, 45–46, 47–52, 101, 140
• hypoxia, 236

• Inconel X, 45
• intercontinental ballistic missiles, 35–36, 41, 160
  • Titan, 41, 59, 161, 163, 164, 165, 204
• International Space Station, 445, 449
• Iran, 119, 121, 128

• Jack and Jill of America, 146
• Jarre, Jean-Michel, 278–79, 285, 452
• Jarvis, Greg, 193–96, 209–11, 225–28, 275–77, 452
  • on Challenger mission, 277, 294, 295, 300, 302, 306, 316, 419
    • death in, 355, 368, 369, 373, 378, 384, 401, 437
    • experiments planned, 277, 285
    • on launch day, 337, 339, 340, 344
    • media junket for, 285
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419–20, 426–28, 435–36, 438
  • at Hughes, 193–96, 275–76, 300
• Jarvis, Marcia, 194–96, 211, 225, 228, 294, 300, 302, 371, 420, 435, 441
  • post-Challenger life of, 452
• Jet, 75, 83, 191
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 392
• Jetty Rats, 405, 414
• John Paul II, Pope, 374
• Johnson, Caldwell, 35
• Johnson, Frank, 229–30
• Johnson, Lyndon, 23, 24, 31, 52, 53, 68–69, 72, 141
• Johnson Sea Link II, 403
• Johnson Space Center (Manned Spacecraft Center), 53, 63, 101, 156, 211, 225, 226, 236, 242, 267, 268, 274, 278, 280, 284, 378
  • Apollo 1 fire and, 22
  • Columbia and, 115, 119, 128, 134, 135
  • Space Shuttle astronaut recruitment and, 78, 84, 91, 93, 103, 104, 111, 144–46, 148–50, 152, 154
  • Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L and, 301, 310, 331
    • memorial for astronauts lost in disaster, 376–77, 406
  • Space Shuttle development and, 34, 37, 56, 61
  • see also Mission Control
• Justice Department, 31

• Kansas City Call, 73
• Karman Line, 46, 132, 229
• Keel, Alton, 398, 454
• Kelly Air Force Base, 79
• Kennedy, John F., 43, 160
  • assassination of, 76, 373
  • moon landing deadline of, 8, 9, 32, 52, 70
  • racial equality and, 71, 72, 74
• Kennedy, Robert F., 29, 75
• Kennedy Space Center, 174, 177, 209, 233, 254, 290, 394, 399, 416–17, 426
  • Challenger STS-51-L mission at, 295, 303, 304, 313, 321, 333, 335, 349, 361, 362, 370
  • Columbia missions at, 112, 113, 130, 291–93
  • construction of, 16–17
  • employee workloads at, 234
  • gift shop at, 299
  • solid rocket boosters and, 159
• Kerwin, Joe, 426, 438–40
• KH-11 Keyhole spy satellite, 136–37
• Kilminster, Joe, 182, 320, 322, 324, 327–31, 395, 407, 432
• King, Martin Luther, 29
• Kingsbury, Jim, 317
• Kitty Hawk, USS, 264
• Kleinknecht, Kenny, 114–15, 119, 123
• Knight, Pete, 48–50
• Konrad, John, 209–11, 276
• Kraft, Chris, 11, 64, 66, 83, 101, 115, 119, 130, 132, 137, 138, 151, 156, 212, 215, 226
• Kranz, Gene, 64, 136–37
• Krist, Ronald, 436, 441
• Ku Klux Klan, 85, 147
• Kutyna, Don, 382, 389, 394, 408, 409, 421, 433
• Kuznetz, Larry, 112–15, 118, 123

• Ladies’ Home Journal, 279
• Lake City, SC, 84–85, 191–92
• Langley Research Center, 35, 53, 154, 239
• Launch Control Center, 16, 129, 130, 183, 198, 200, 236, 289, 290, 292, 294
  • Challenger STS-51-L and, 299, 303, 304, 307, 308–10, 335, 337, 338, 341, 343, 344, 346–47, 350, 354, 356, 361, 363, 364
• Lawrence, Robert H., 77
• Lee, Chester, 230
• Lee, Dottie, 56, 60, 134–35, 137
• LeMay, Curtis, 75
• Liberty Star, 245, 318–19, 321
• Life, 31, 46, 67, 291
• Lincoln, Abraham, 376
• Live Aid, 276
• Lloyd’s of London, 214
• Lockheed Corporation, 99–100, 114, 115, 233
• Long, Linda, 304
• Los Alamos National Laboratory, 54
• Los Angeles Times, 79, 82
• Love, Mike, 81
• Lovelace, Randy, 66–68
• Lovell, Jim, 266
• Lovingood, Jud, 317, 322, 385–87
• Lucas, Bill, 157–58, 176, 177, 179, 180, 291, 300, 317–18, 332, 335–36, 348, 386, 417–18, 432, 434
  • post-Challenger life of, 452–53
• Lucid, Shannon, 93
• Lucy, 411, 412, 424
• Lund, Bob, 250–51, 261, 271–72, 313–15, 319, 320, 324, 326, 328–31, 394–96, 407, 408, 432, 451
• Luz, 83

• Magee, John Gillespie, Jr., 281–82, 366, 370
• Magellan, Ferdinand, 38
• Mailer, Norman, 218
• Management Information Center (MIC), 246
• Manned Maneuvering Unit, 110, 186, 188, 212, 213
• Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), 43–44, 48, 59, 77, 105, 114
• Manned Spacecraft Center, see Johnson Space Center
• Maready, Bill, 307, 437
• Maribelle’s, 111, 267
• Mark, Hans, 206–7
• Markey, Ed, 441–42
• Mars, 29, 32, 54, 55, 157
• Marshall Space Flight Center, 53, 62, 157, 202–3, 207, 240, 251, 260, 291, 417, 432
  • engine presentation for Feynman at, 421–22
  • Science and Engineering Directorate, 178-179
  • solid rocket booster project and O-ring concerns at, 143, 164, 166–68, 172, 173, 178–80, 182, 206, 253, 2525–56, 259, 262, 269, 271, 272, 311, 416, 423, 430
  • Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L and, 300, 301, 314–15, 317–18, 322–24, 327, 328, 330, 378, 384, 385, 387, 395, 403, 408
  • Space Shuttle design and, 158–59
• Martin, Roy, 82, 93
• Martin Marietta, 62, 117
• Mason, Jerry, 319–20, 322, 327–30, 387, 390, 394–96, 398, 404, 406–8, 432
• Mathematica Inc., 58
• McAllister, Mike, 411–12
• McAuliffe, Caroline, 223, 238, 274, 280, 282, 297, 308, 343
• McAuliffe, Christa, 222–25, 280, 373
  • birth of, 222
  • on Challenger mission, 294, 295, 297, 302, 304–6, 316, 359, 449
    • death in, 355, 368, 369, 373–74, 378, 384, 401, 414
    • on launch day, 339, 340, 342–44, 348, 350
    • media and, 216–17, 236–38, 242–43, 274, 275, 279, 284–85, 294–96
    • personal items packed for, 282, 418
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • science demonstration plans, 275
    • Teacher in Space program, 219–22, 224–25, 228–30, 234–38, 268–69, 274–75, 279, 285, 291, 296, 298–99, 316, 344, 365, 434
    • training for, 274, 275, 279–80
  • early life of, 222
  • education of, 222–23
  • marriage of, 222, 223
  • parents of, 222, 297, 299, 302, 342, 350, 354, 357, 358, 362, 375–76
  • politics and, 279
  • Resnik and, 274–75, 339
  • Scobee and, 280
  • teaching career of, 217, 223–24, 237
  • Tonight Show appearance of, 216–17, 242–43, 279
• McAuliffe, Scott, 223, 238, 280, 282, 297–98, 342
• McAuliffe, Steven, 220–24, 228, 274, 280, 282, 297, 299, 302, 343, 371, 376, 418, 441
  • post-Challenger life of, 453
• McCandless, Bruce, 187–90
• McConnell, Malcolm, 232
• McDonald, Allan, 179–83, 202–4, 207–9, 254, 255, 257, 259–62, 269–71, 273, 313–15, 322, 326–28, 330–31, 348, 349, 364, 378–79, 381, 383–84, 454
  • post-Challenger life of, 453–54
  • Rogers Commission testimony of, 387–90, 392, 395, 397–98, 404, 407, 430
    • Thiokol and, 432, 441–42
• McDonald, Linda, 181
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10, 248–49
  • Flight 981 crash and, 249–50, 261
• McNair, Carl, 85–87, 192, 296, 342
• McNair, Cheryl Moore, 87–89, 146, 296, 299, 306, 371, 375, 441
  • post-Challenger life of, 454
• McNair, Eric, 342
• McNair, Joy, 296, 343, 375, 376, 454
• McNair, Mary, 296, 342
• McNair, Reggie, 186, 296, 308, 343, 375, 454
• McNair, Ron, 84–89, 111, 146, 151, 205, 209, 454
  • astronaut application of, 89
  • on Challenger STS-41-B mission, 185–88, 190–92, 276
  • on Challenger STS-51-L mission, 229, 268, 295, 296, 299, 306, 308, 418
    • death in, 355, 362, 368, 369, 373, 375, 378, 384, 401, 414
    • on launch day, 340, 344
    • media junket for, 285
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • saxophone playing plans, 278–79, 285, 286, 452
    • training for, 277, 279
  • in college, 86–87
  • early life of, 84–86
  • in high school, 85–86, 186, 191
  • hometown visited by, 191–92
  • at Hughes, 84, 88–89
  • as karate master, 86, 87, 186, 418
  • marriage of, 88
  • at MIT, 84, 87, 88, 191
  • as musician, 86, 185–87, 190–91, 278–79, 285, 286, 452
  • PhD research of, 88, 191
  • racism experienced by, 85, 87
• McNamara, Robert, 43
• medicine, 46
• Meese, Ed, 450
• Memorial Coliseum, 374
• Mercury program, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 26, 33, 46, 67, 83, 114–15, 147, 154, 341
  • capsules in, 35–37, 46
  • Mercury Seven in, 65, 66, 102, 147, 266
  • unmanned tests in, 122
• Merritt Island, 20, 23, 113, 184, 247, 293, 295–96, 302, 304, 306, 314, 315, 321, 340, 347, 370, 399, 429
• Michener, James, 218, 267–68
• Michoud Assembly Facility, 62
• Mintier, Tom, 343, 352–53
• missiles, 35–36, 41, 59, 62, 160, 403
  • Titan, 41, 59, 161, 163, 164, 165, 204
• Mission Control, 53, 94, 112, 162–63, 187, 226, 239–42, 261, 350, 353, 358, 360, 419, 420
  • CapCom in, 94, 116, 130, 138, 139, 151, 346, 352, 443
  • Columbia and, 130–34, 136, 139
  • communications satellite and, 278
  • Discovery STS-51-C and, 244
  • Nesbitt as chief commentator for, 1–4
• Mission Management Team, 303, 316, 341
• Mission Specialists, 65, 66, 78–79, 89, 90, 92, 106, 229, 275, 277
• Mission Watch, 298
• MIT, 84, 87, 88, 191
• Mobile Launcher Platform, 325, 337
• Moeller, Walter H., 70
• Mondale, Walter, 25
• Montgomery, Mable, 191
• Moody Air Force Base, 79
• moon bases, 54–55, 57, 157
• moon landing, 444
  • Apollo 11, 28–30, 38, 54, 55, 64, 112, 119, 121, 139, 156, 187, 194, 223, 243, 340
  • Kennedy’s deadline for, 8, 9, 32, 52, 70
  • risk assessment of, 168–69
• Moore, Jesse, 269, 271, 276, 301, 303, 304, 341, 346, 348, 367–68, 377–78, 381, 385–87, 399, 409, 417, 431
• Morgan, Barbara, 237, 274, 279, 280, 294, 298, 350, 354, 357, 449
• Mork & Mindy, 229
• Mormons, 160, 247
• Morton Norwich Company, 161
• Morton Thiokol, Inc., 161
  • see also Thiokol Chemical Corporation
• Moser, Tom, 115, 117, 119, 136, 211, 212, 214
• Motion Base Simulator, 109
• Mousetrap, 108
• Mullane, Mike, 103, 200
• Mulloy, Larry, 172, 206–9, 255, 256, 262, 269, 270, 291, 314, 317–18, 322–24, 326–28, 330–32, 335–36, 341, 348, 364, 430, 432, 434, 437
  • post-Challenger life of, 454–55
  • Rogers Commission testimony of, 387–89, 393, 394, 395, 397, 406, 407–9
  • Smith’s lawsuit against, 439–40
• Murrow, Edward R., 71, 72, 75
• Musgrave, Story, 241–42

• NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), 85, 174
• NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), 35, 37, 56
• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), 119, 156–57, 290
  • bureaucracy in, 64, 154, 156, 167, 177, 325, 410, 446
  • centers of, 53
  • Challenger disaster investigation by, 368, 378–82
  • Challenger disaster statement of, 364–65, 367–68
  • creation of, 37, 43
  • criticism of, 25
  • funding for, 29, 32, 40, 52, 53, 156, 157, 159, 276
  • goals of, 43, 44, 52, 231
  • militarization of, 43–44, 231–32, 282–83
  • Rogers Commission and, 382, 383, 409, 410, 415–17, 429–31, 433, 434, 443–44
  • Smith’s lawsuit against, 439–40
  • in space race with Soviet Union, 8–9, 32, 42–43, 52, 83
• National Academy of Sciences, 384
• National Aeronautics and Space Act, 43
• National Aeronautics and Space Council, 68, 72
• National Enquirer, 376
• National Geographic, 128, 218
• National Institutes of Health, 89
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 101, 232
• National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), 59, 136
• National Space Club, 242
• National Transportation Safety Board, 401, 410, 424
• Navy, US, 45, 100, 141, 400, 412, 425
  • Smith in, 263–67
• Nazi Germany, 40–41, 158
• NBC, 31–32, 360, 380
• Nelson, Bill, 276–77, 284, 298, 374, 444
  • post-Challenger life of, 455
• Nelson, George “Pinky,” 92, 130, 140, 316
• Nesbitt, Steve, 1–4, 351, 354–58, 360, 371–72
  • post-Challenger life of, 455
• Newsweek, 55, 141, 235, 279
• New York Times, 51, 214, 377, 381, 385–87, 404
• New York Times Magazine, 122, 279
• New York Yacht Club, 219
• Nichols, Nichelle, 84
• 9/11 attacks, 444
• nitrogen, 12, 129
• Nixon, Richard, 29, 31–33, 54, 55, 57–59, 62, 96, 104, 141, 298, 379, 382, 431
• Noonan, Peggy, 366, 367
• North American Aviation, 52
  • Apollo 1 and, 9–14, 17, 24, 26
  • X-15, 45–46, 47–52, 101, 140
• North American Rockwell, 62, 440
  • see also Rockwell International
• North Carolina A&T State University, 86–87
• nuclear weapons, 36, 41, 43, 160, 283
  • SALT and, 101–2
• Nygren, Rick, 362

• Oakbrook, TX, 102
• Obama, Barack, 451
• Office of Management and Budget, 58, 102
• O’Hara, Eileen, 316
• oil shocks and gasoline prices, 119, 120
• Onizuka, Claude, 334–35
• Onizuka, Darien, 245, 455
• Onizuka, Ellison, 82–83, 145, 455–56
  • astronaut application of, 83, 92–93
  • on Challenger mission, 229, 268, 295, 296, 316, 418
    • death in, 355, 368, 369, 373, 378, 384, 401, 414, 439
    • on launch day, 334–35, 339, 344, 348
    • media junket for, 285
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • training for, 277
  • Columbia and, 116, 129–30
  • on Discovery STS-51-C mission, 244–45, 247, 253–55, 268, 303–4
  • early life of, 82–83
  • family background of, 82
• Onizuka, Janelle, 245, 418, 455
• Onizuka, Lorna, 82, 83, 92–93, 145, 244, 245, 343, 361, 371, 414, 441
  • post-Challenger life of, 455
• Operation Paperclip, 40–41
• Orbital Maneuvering System, 134, 137
• Orbiter Processing Facility, 112, 114, 115, 118, 123, 233
• Order of the Palmetto, 191
• Oregon Trail, 376
• O-rings, 164–73
  • “Apocalypse” letter about, 417–18, 457
  • cold temperatures and, 253–57, 259, 262, 392, 393
    • Challenger STS-51-L disaster and, 349–51, 381, 384
    • Challenger STS-51-L launch concerns about, 297, 300–301, 303–7, 310–20, 321–32, 335–36, 430, 436
    • Discovery STS-51-C and, 247, 253–55, 303–4, 311, 313, 324, 329
    • Feynman’s ice water demonstration on, 393–94
  • damage found in, 143, 166–68, 170, 171, 173, 204–9, 385–86, 416, 417, 430, 433
    • as acceptable risk, 208, 256, 270, 393
    • anomaly team investigation of, 259
    • Boisjoly’s concerns about, 251–62, 271–72, 311–13, 319, 323–29, 331, 408, 430
    • on Challenger STS-51-B, 258
    • on Columbia, 143, 170, 171, 173
    • escalation of, 323
    • Feynman’s study of, 392, 421
    • Hardy and, 271
    • McDonald and, 270
    • as self-limiting, 206, 208
  • manufacturing process for, 169–70
  • secondary, 164, 169, 172, 206–8, 252, 253, 258–60, 270, 323, 329, 350, 386
  • squeeze in, 164, 166, 255, 257, 323
  • tests of, 166–68, 171–72, 205–6, 256–57, 259
• Orlando Sentinel, 305
• O’Shaughnessy, Tam, 456
• Outpost Tavern, 111, 267
• Overmyer, Bob, 114
• oxygen, 129, 168, 236, 292, 333, 338
  • in Apollo 1 cockpit, 12–14, 17, 19, 24
  • in shuttle engines, 96–98

• Paige, Hilliard, 14
• Paine, Thomas, 30–31, 54–55, 57, 169
• Pan Am, 223
• Parker Seal Company, 167, 179
• Patrick Air Force Base, 302, 426
• Paul VI, Pope, 23
• payload specialists, 193, 209, 225–27, 276
• People, 216, 279
• Pepsi, 238
• Personal Egress Air Packs, 438–39
• Pe-Te’s Cajun BBQ House, 111
• Petrone, Rocco, 340, 341
• Pipeline computer program, 115, 118
• Poindexter, John, 381
• Point Roberts, 400
• Port Canaveral, 400, 401, 403, 405, 414, 418, 420, 426
• Preserver, 412–14, 418–20
• Press, Frank, 101
• Promontory plant, 160–62, 165, 167, 171, 180, 207, 246, 247, 250, 252, 256, 315, 319, 331, 359, 405, 432, 441
  • see also Wasatch plant
• proximity operations, 211–13
• Purdue University, 239

• Quiñones, John, 317

• Ragland, Dayton “Rags,” 73
• Rather, Dan, 4, 317, 339, 360
• RCA, 90
• Reader’s Digest, 42, 232
• Reagan, Nancy, 142–43, 344, 376
• Reagan, Ronald, 79, 128, 140–43, 204, 214, 218, 231, 247, 267–68, 279, 282, 283, 380, 410, 445
  • assassination attempt on, 4
  • Challenger disaster and, 359, 365–66, 368–70, 376, 377
  • Rogers Commission and, 380–83, 398, 429
  • State of the Union addresses of, 343–44, 365, 366, 369, 434
  • Teacher in Space program and, 220–21, 344, 369, 434
• reconnaissance missions, 43–44, 101–2
• Redstone Arsenal, 53, 157, 300
• Reedy, George, 72
• Regan, Donald, 380–81
• Reinartz, Stan, 317–18, 322, 331–32, 335, 341, 397
• Remote Manipulator System (robot arm), 110, 116, 149–51, 188, 277
• Resnik, Charles, 89
• Resnik, Judy, 89–90, 111, 147–52, 209, 236, 280, 286, 416
  • amateur astronauts as viewed by, 274–75
  • astronaut application and acceptance of, 89–93
  • astronaut training of, 102
  • on Challenger mission, 229, 268, 274, 295, 299–300, 316, 419
    • death in, 355, 368, 369, 373, 378, 384, 401, 414, 439, 441
    • on launch day, 339, 344, 350, 351
    • media junket for, 285–86
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • training for, 277
  • Columbia and, 116, 129
  • Culbertson and, 286, 362
  • on Discovery mission, 196–201, 207, 221
  • early life of, 89
  • education of, 89–90
  • “J.R.” nickname of, 149
  • McAuliffe and, 274–75, 339
  • robot arm operations of, 116, 149–51, 277
• Resnik, Marvin, 299–300, 350, 371, 414, 435
  • post-Challenger life of, 456
• Ride, Sally, 93, 107, 147, 148, 150, 151, 153, 174, 221, 231
  • media attention to, 153
  • post-Challenger life of, 456
  • robot arm operations of, 150, 151
  • on Rogers Commission, 382, 398, 408, 436
• Right Stuff, The (Wolfe), 74
• Riley, Dick, 191
• robot arm, 110, 116, 149–51, 188, 277
• Rocketdyne, 52, 62, 97, 98, 240
• rocket engines, 38–39, 54, 96–98, 134, 157–58
  • F-1, 159
  • liquid-fueled, 61–62
  • solid, 61–62
    • see also Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters
• rocket planes, 81
  • X-15, 45–46, 47–52, 101, 140
• rocket-powered escape systems, 60
• Rocket Propulsion Test Complex, 98
• rockets, 36, 53, 58, 232
  • Saturn, 9, 18, 39, 40, 58
  • V-2, 40, 41
• Rockwell International, 62, 95, 108, 113, 114, 119, 129, 135, 217, 248–50, 310
  • Challenger launch and, 334, 337, 338, 340–42, 381, 406
• Rodgers, Don, 456
• Rogers, William, 382, 383, 385–90, 393–99, 404, 406, 407, 409–10, 429–31, 433–34, 436, 453
• Rogers Commission, 384–90, 391–99, 404–10, 391–99, 404–10, 416–17, 420–22, 453, 454
  • Boisjoly’s testimony to, 395, 396, 398, 404, 408, 430
    • Thiokol and, 432, 441–42
  • creation of, 380–83
  • criminal prosecution and, 434
  • Feynman on, 382, 389, 391–94, 396, 408, 420–22, 433
    • Appendix F for, 433, 449–50
    • ice water demonstration in, 393–94
  • launch decision examined by, 385–89, 395–99, 404, 406–10, 420, 430
  • McDonald’s testimony to, 387–90, 392, 395, 397–98, 404, 407, 430
    • Thiokol and, 432, 441–42
  • Mulloy’s testimony to, 387–89, 393, 394, 395, 397, 406, 407–9
  • NASA and, 382, 383, 409, 410, 415–17, 429–31, 433, 434, 443–44
  • press and, 404, 406
  • Reagan and, 380–83, 398, 429
  • report of, 382, 429–37, 443
    • astronauts’ families and, 436–37
    • concluding statement of, 431, 433
    • recommendations in, 431
  • specialized teams on, 420–21
  • Thiokol and, 385, 387–90, 394–98, 404–9
• Rogers Dry Lake, 81
• Rotating Service Structure, 304, 305
• Royal Navy, 143
• Rumsfeld, Donald, 25
• Russell, Brian, 319, 322–24, 359, 432
• Russia, 445

• Sacramento Bee, 51
• Safire, William, 33
• Sakata, Norman, 83, 335
• Salinas, Sylvia, 149, 197, 286, 316
• SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks), 101–2
• Salt Lake City, UT, 169
• Salyut 5, 78
• San Francisco Examiner, 120
• Sänger, Eugen, 40, 41
• satellites, 42, 161, 194–96, 209, 434
  • communications, 278, 290
  • European Space Agency, 232
  • lost, 187
    • recovery of, 211–15
  • Space Shuttle and, 186, 187, 211–15, 225, 226, 232, 276–78, 290, 445
  • Sputnik, 41
  • spy, 43–44, 59, 446
  • Tracking and Data Relay, 277–78
• Saturn V, 159
• Saturn rockets, 9, 18, 39, 40, 58
• Schmitt, Harrison “Jack,” 28
• Scientific American, 87
• Scobee, Dick, 79–82, 103, 108, 145–46, 206, 209, 280–81
  • astronaut application and acceptance of, 82, 93
  • astronaut training of, 102
  • on Challenger STS-41-C mission, 183–84
  • on Challenger STS-51-L mission, 229, 268, 274, 280–81, 293, 295, 299, 306, 310, 316–17, 418
    • death in, 355, 362, 363, 368, 369, 373, 375, 378, 384, 401, 406, 414–15
    • in launch, 350–52
    • on launch day, 334, 336, 338–39, 344, 345, 348, 349
    • media junket for, 284, 286
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • training for, 277
  • Columbia and, 116, 129, 130
  • McAuliffe and, 280
• Scobee, June, 79–81, 102, 103, 145–46, 280, 286, 294, 299, 302, 316, 361, 363, 371, 374–76, 406, 414–15, 435–37, 441, 443
  • post-Challenger life of, 456
• Scobee, Kathie, 80, 102, 184, 280
• Scobee, Rich, 80–81, 102, 145, 184, 299, 436
  • post-Challenger life of, 456
• Scott, Walter, 85
• Scott-Heron, Gil, 31
• Second World War, 40, 67, 281, 295
• Seddon, Rhea, 93, 147, 148
  • Columbia and, 116
  • training of, 105–7
• Senate and House Committee on Space, 68
• Sepia, 75
• Shea, Joe, 10, 11, 13–14, 17, 23–24, 27
• Shepard, Alan, 10, 46, 53, 68, 217, 222
• Sherr, Lynn, 213
• Shuttle Landing Facility, 295, 300
• Shuttle Training Aircraft, 277, 306, 338
• Sieck, Bob, 303, 355
• Silbervogel, 40, 41
• Skylab, 103, 119–20
• slavery, 191
• Slayton, Deke, 22, 65–66, 76, 229, 243
• Smith, Alison, 263, 265–69, 308, 309, 335, 343, 350, 354, 356–57, 361–63, 370–72, 406, 435, 457
• Smith, Erin, 266, 308, 350, 361, 372, 435
• Smith, Jane Jarrell, 264, 265, 268, 302, 316, 343, 350, 356, 363, 371, 372, 375, 406, 414, 427, 435, 437, 439
  • lawsuits filed by, 439–41
  • post-Challenger life of, 457
• Smith, Mike, 263–69, 427, 457
  • Abbey and, 267–68
  • on Challenger mission, 229, 268–69, 295, 297, 302, 305–7, 308, 315–16, 419
    • death in, 355, 361–63, 368, 369, 373, 375, 378, 384, 401, 414, 438–40
    • on launch day, 335, 339, 344, 348, 350, 352
    • media junket for, 286
    • recovery of remains and burial, 419, 426–28, 435–36, 438
    • training for, 277
  • early life of, 263–64
  • marriage of, 264
  • NASA joined by, 266
  • Navy career of, 263–67
• Smith, Scott, 263, 264, 266, 267, 308, 343, 350, 356, 372, 435, 457
• Soviet space program, 8–9, 32, 41–43, 52, 83, 290, 369
  • Buran, 102
  • female cosmonauts in, 66, 69, 70
  • Gagarin in, 9, 42–43, 71
  • Salyut 5, 78
  • Sputnik, 41
  • Vostok 1, 43
  • Vostok 6, 70
• Soviet Union, 41, 42, 402, 444
  • Challenger disaster and, 374
  • Cold War with, 29, 32, 41, 43–44, 160, 231–32, 444
  • nuclear arms of, 101–2, 160
  • reconnaissance satellites and, 44, 59
  • Space Shuttle and, 60
  • Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars program) and, 232, 282
• Space and Naval Medicine Congress, 67
• Space Camp, 224
• Space Communications Group, 193
• Space Flight Participant Program, 217–20, 235, 243, 274–75, 291, 445
  • Teacher in Space, 219–22, 224–25, 228–30, 234–38, 260, 268–69, 274–75, 279, 285, 291, 296, 298–99, 316, 344, 365, 369, 434
• space flight simulation facilities, 443
• spaceplanes, 38, 40, 81, 98
  • Dyna-Soar, 41–43, 60
  • X-15, 45–46, 47–52, 101, 140
• Space Shuttle
  • “anomalies” in, 176, 177, 203, 208
  • cockpit of, 109
  • computers of, 131, 137–40, 155, 162–63, 241, 242, 292
  • cross-range ability of, 59–60
  • design and development of, 33, 37–38, 55–62, 81, 94, 96–100, 107
    • Faget’s work in, 34, 37–38, 57, 60–62, 98, 130, 137, 447
  • engines of, 96–98, 123, 134, 154–55, 240–42, 260–61, 364
    • Feynman and, 421–22
  • Enterprise (originally Constitution) test vehicle, 62, 95–96
  • heat-insulating tiles on, 98–100, 113–15, 117–19, 121–23, 129, 133–38, 141, 226, 227, 334, 411, 446
  • lack of crew escape system on, 154, 164
  • Main Propulsion System of, 239
  • mission simulators, 109–10, 117
  • post-flight examinations of, 233
  • safety concerns about, 154–55
  • solid rocket boosters of, see Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters
  • spare parts for, 233
  • toilets on, 78, 275
• Space Shuttle astronauts
  • African American, 64–66, 71–77, 78, 79, 83–84, 92, 93, 144–46, 151–53, 174, 191
  • civilian, 216–19, 285, 365, 369, 370
    • Hughes Aircraft employees, 193–96, 209–11, 225–26, 275–76
    • journalists, 291, 445
    • politicians, 227, 275–77, 284
    • Space Flight Participant Program, 217–20, 235, 243, 274–75, 291, 445
    • Teacher in Space program, 219–22, 224–25, 228–30, 234–38, 260, 268–69, 274–75, 279, 285, 291, 296, 298–99, 316, 344, 365, 369, 434
  • first group of, 144–48, 236
    • as Astronaut Candidates, 102–11, 115–16, 150
    • competition and jealousy among, 152, 153
    • flight assignments of, 144, 148, 150–54
    • recruitment of, 62, 63–79, 82–84, 89–94, 154
    • Red and Blue teams of, 108, 116, 148
    • relationships among, 144–46, 148
    • “TFNGs” acronym for, 94
    • training of, 94, 102, 105–11, 115–16, 144
  • female, 64–71, 76, 78, 79, 83–84, 90, 92, 93, 107, 144, 150–53, 174, 200, 221, 231
  • Mission Specialists, 65, 66, 78–79, 89, 90, 92, 106, 229, 275, 277
  • payload specialists, 193, 209, 225–27, 276
• Space Shuttle Atlantis, 232–33, 449
• Space Shuttle Challenger, 143, 174, 210, 227, 232, 234, 256
  • burned rocket nozzles in, 175, 179, 182
  • on launchpad, diagram of, 458
  • space walks from, 174, 186, 188–90, 277
  • STS-7 mission, 151, 153
  • STS-8 mission, 144, 151, 153, 174–75
  • STS-41-B mission, 185–92, 276
  • STS-41-C mission, 183–84
  • STS-51-B mission, 258
• Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-F
  • aborted launch of, 236, 238, 261, 269
  • beverage dispenser on, 238
  • launch of, 238–42, 261
• Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L, 229, 284, 286, 293–301
  • astronauts on, see Jarvis, Greg; McAuliffe, Christa; McNair, Ron; Onizuka, Ellison; Resnik, Judy; Scobee, Dick; Smith, Mike
  • at Kennedy Space Center, 295, 303, 304, 313, 321, 333, 335, 349, 361, 362
  • launch of, 1, 3
    • booster rocket temperature in, 337–38, 345
    • cold weather and O-ring concerns about, 297, 300–301, 303–7, 310–20, 321–32, 335–36, 430
    • cold weather during, 337, 367, 368, 385, 386, 388, 389
    • countdown to, 307, 308, 317, 334, 341–44, 346–49
    • date for, 293, 294, 296–97, 300, 301, 303–6
    • day of, 333–53
    • door latch problem and, 309–10, 316, 317
    • dress rehearsal for, 293
    • final decisions for, 329–32, 341–42, 346, 368, 399, 408, 409
    • launchpad ice and, 311, 325, 333–34, 337–41, 343, 345, 349
    • liftoff and ascent, 349–52, 354–55, 357, 360
    • prelaunch party, 302
    • readiness reviews for, 300–301, 303, 322–32, 393, 430
    • recovery ships and, 318–19, 321, 331–32, 341
    • rumors about White House pressure for, 434
    • signed recommendation for, 329–32, 336, 395
    • solid rocket boosters in, 337–38, 345, 348, 364, 429–30
    • spectators at, 296–98, 305–6, 308, 342
    • televising of, 347, 348, 351–53, 373
    • Thiokol debate on, 311–15, 317–20, 322–32, 335–36, 347, 348, 350, 386, 388, 389, 395–98, 404–9, 430, 432, 437
  • media and, 284–86, 295–96, 317, 342, 343, 348, 354
  • night viewing of, 302
  • solid rocket boosters on, 337–38, 345, 348, 364, 425
    • disaster investigation and, 378–81, 384, 422–23, 429–30
    • recovery of debris from, 402, 403
    • temperature readings of, 337–38, 345
  • Teacher in Space program for, 219–22, 224–25, 228–30, 234–38, 260, 268–69, 274–75, 279, 285, 291, 296, 298–99, 316, 344, 365, 434
• Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L disaster, 3–4, 352–53, 354–72, 409, 444, 446, 449
  • families of astronauts lost in, 354, 356–57, 361–63, 365, 366, 370–72, 374–76, 378, 401, 405–6, 443
    • financial settlements for, 436, 437, 440–41
    • Rogers Commission report and, 436–37
    • wreckage recovery and, 414–15, 426–28
  • final moments in, 427, 438–40
  • investigation of, 365
    • boosters and O-rings pinpointed in, 378–81, 384
    • by NASA, 368, 378–82
    • by Rogers Commission, see Rogers Commission
  • media coverage of, 354–55, 357, 359–61, 364–65, 367–68, 372, 374–77, 379–81, 383, 385–88, 402, 405
  • memorials for astronauts lost in, 376–77, 406, 443
  • as mystery, 377
  • NASA statement on, 364–65, 367–68
  • national bereavement and tributes following, 371–72, 373–74, 376–77
  • O-rings in, 349–51
  • Reagan’s statements on, 359, 365–66, 368–70, 376, 377
  • recovery of wreckage from, 378, 399–405, 423–25, 429
    • booster rocket, 422–23
    • burial of, 444
    • computers, 419
    • cost and scope of operations, 425
    • crew cabin, 411–15, 418–20, 437–39
    • Personal Egress Air Packs, 438–39
    • personal items, 418–19
    • tape recorders, 419, 437–38, 440
  • spectators and, 354–55, 357, 370
  • video footage of, 363–64, 378–79, 381, 382
• Space Shuttle Columbia, 112–24, 173, 198, 232
  • computers of, 131, 137–40
  • construction of, 96, 108, 112–19, 121–24
  • ejection seats on, 154
  • engines of, 134
  • heat-insulating tiles on, 113–15, 117–19, 121–23, 129, 133–38, 141, 411, 446
  • heat shield damage on, 133–37
  • at Kennedy Space Center, 112, 113
  • lack of unmanned test flights for, 122, 124
  • launch of, 1, 104–5, 123–24, 127–33, 167
  • O-ring damage on, 143
  • reentry of, 136–40
  • rocket boosters of, 132–33, 143
  • satellite images of, 136–37
  • STS-1 mission, 128–43, 410, 446
  • STS-2 mission, 143, 170, 173
  • STS-5 mission, 173
  • STS-9 mission, 151
  • STS-61-C mission, 276–77, 289–94
  • STS-107 mission, 445–47
    • disaster, 447–48, 449
• Space Shuttle Discovery, 226, 232–34, 246, 256, 268, 370, 443, 444
  • cold weather and, 247, 255
  • STS-41-D mission, 196–201, 202, 207, 221
  • STS-51-A mission, 211–15
  • STS-51-C mission, 244–45, 247, 253–55, 268, 303–4, 311, 313, 324, 329
• Space Shuttle program, 119, 415, 431, 444, 449
  • “acceptable risk” assessments in, 175–78, 208, 256, 270, 393
  • Challenger disaster and, 369, 382, 384
  • contingency plan for handling news of accidents in, 364–65
  • cost effectiveness of, 58–59, 141, 232
  • costs of and funding for, 57–58, 61, 100–102, 113, 122, 142, 232
  • crossroads of, 232
  • delays in, 96, 113–15, 119, 121–23, 127–29, 201, 226–27, 232, 234, 417
  • first fatalities in, 129
  • flight designation system in, 183
  • Flight Readiness Reviews in, see Flight Readiness Reviews
  • flight test program condensed in, 142
  • Hubble Space Telescope and, 290–91
  • launch schedules in, 153, 174, 201, 204, 226–27, 232–34, 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, 272, 290, 293, 328, 431
  • media and, 121–22, 128, 141, 214, 234, 236, 417
  • military payloads in, 244–45, 268, 290, 445
  • number of orbiters in, 62, 96, 102, 142, 154
  • operational flights begun in, 142, 153, 156, 172, 173, 204, 218
  • Remote Manipulator System in, 110, 116, 149–51
  • risk assessment of, 168, 169
  • Rogers Commission recommendations for, 431
  • satellite projects in, 186, 187, 211–15, 225, 226, 232, 276–78, 290, 445
  • Skylab and, 120
  • space walks in, 174, 186, 188–90, 214, 277
• Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters, 61–62, 122, 132–33, 143, 155, 158–73, 175, 178, 182, 202–9, 230, 240, 260–61
  • assumptions and failures in program for, 396
  • Booster Systems Engineer and, 239–40
  • on Challenger STS-51-L, 337–38, 345, 348, 364, 425
    • disaster investigation and, 378–81, 384, 422–23, 429–30
    • recovery of debris from, 402, 403
    • temperature readings of, 337–38, 345
  • diagram of, 457
  • on Discovery STS-41-D, 199, 202, 207
  • estimates of failure in, 421, 422
  • Flight Readiness Reviews and, 178–79, 208, 254, 255, 257, 260
  • joints in, 163–73, 179, 205–7, 252–53, 255, 256, 258–62, 269, 270–72, 396
    • as Criticality 1 items, 207, 270
    • problems accepted as normal in, 208–9, 256
    • putty in, 164, 170, 172, 204, 205, 207, 252, 254, 257, 392, 204, 205, 207, 252, 254, 392
    • redesign of, 431
    • see also O-rings
  • McDonald’s presentation on, 269–71
  • nozzles in, 175, 179, 182, 204, 258, 270
  • redesign of, 441–43
  • refurbishing of, 246
  • retrieval and postflight inspections of, 245–46, 252, 257–58
    • Challenger STS-51-L and, 318–19, 321, 331–32, 341
  • stacking process for, 170, 172, 204, 384
  • test firing of, 165–66
  • Thiokol’s contract for, 62, 328, 430, 441
    • competing bid possibility and, 181–82, 203, 204
    • see also Thiokol Chemical Corporation
• space stations, 54–55, 57, 231
  • International Space Station, 445, 449
  • Salyut 5, 78
• Space Transportation System, 33, 55, 57, 62, 96, 341, 385, 449
  • see also Space Shuttle program
• space walks, 174, 186, 188–90, 214, 277
• Springer, Bob, 266, 268
• Sputnik, 41
• spy satellites and missions, 43–44, 101–2, 136–37, 446
• Stalin, Vasily, 41
• Stallone, Sylvester, 279
• Star Trek, 84, 95, 209
• Star Wars program (Strategic Defense Initiative), 232, 282
• State Department, 71
• Stevenson, Charlie, 333–34, 337–38, 344, 345
• Stewart, Bob, 187, 189–90
• Stinger, 212–14
• Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars program), 232, 282
• Sullivan, Kathy, 93
• Sununu, John, 298, 305
• Super Bowl, 297, 306
• Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman! (Feynman), 391
• Surveyor 1, 9

• T-38 jets, 106, 108, 115, 130, 146, 295, 306, 376
• tang-and-clevis joints, 163, 164, 166, 167, 170, 255, 381, 392
• Teacher in Space program, 219–22, 224–25, 228–30, 234–38, 260, 268–69, 274–75, 279, 285, 291, 296, 298–99, 316, 344, 365, 369, 434
• Teamsters Union, 248
• Tereshkova, Valentina, 70
• Texas, 278
• Texas A&M University, 145
• Thiokol Chemical Corporation, 133, 143, 159–73, 175, 178–82, 202–8, 240, 246, 251–62, 269–73, 416, 417
  • Boisjoly’s suit against, 442–43
  • Challenger STS-51-L and
    • disaster, 358–59
    • Rogers Commission investigation, 385, 387–90, 394–98, 404–9
    • launch concerns and debate, 311–15, 317–20, 322–32, 335–36, 347, 348, 350, 386, 388, 389, 395–98, 404–9, 430, 432, 437
  • financial compensation to astronauts’ families from, 436, 437, 440–41
  • fires at plants of, 180–82, 257
  • layoffs at, 405
  • McDonald’s and Boisjoly’s testimony and, 432, 441–42
  • Promontory plant of, 160–62, 165, 167, 171, 180, 207, 246, 247, 250, 252, 256, 315, 319, 331, 359, 405, 432, 441
    • see also Wasatch plant of
  • solid rocket contract of, 62, 328, 430, 441
    • competing bid possibility and, 181–82, 203, 204
  • solid rocket manufacture suspended by, 404–5
  • Wasatch plant of, 62, 160, 161, 163, 165, 179, 181, 251, 256, 257, 271–72, 312, 319, 330, 336
    • see also Promontory plant of
  • see also O-rings; Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters
• Thomas, Gene, 289–90, 303–5, 308–11, 334, 343, 344, 346, 355, 357, 363, 364
• Thomas, Kathy, 453
• Thompson, Arnie, 257, 311, 319, 328, 329, 347, 396, 430, 432
• Three Mile Island, 119
• tiles, heat-insulating, 98–100, 113–15, 117–19, 121–23, 133–38, 141, 226, 227, 334, 411, 446
• Timber Cove, 263, 266–68, 372, 375
• Time, 13–14, 17, 67, 141, 148, 279
• Tinsley, Ron, 452
• Titanic, 402
• Titan missiles, 41, 59, 161, 163, 164, 165, 204
• Tonight Show, The, 216–17, 243–44, 279
• Trident Basin, 412
• Truly, Dick, 151, 218, 415, 428
• Turkish Airlines Flight 981, 249–50, 261
• Turning Basin, 305

• Ultimate Explorer, The, 141
• United Nations, 23, 43
• University of Alabama, 276
• Uranus, 374
• USA Today, 284
• US Information Agency, 71, 75

• V-2 rockets, 40, 41
• van Hoften, Jim “Ox,” 145
• Vehicle Assembly Building, 123, 159, 169, 170, 172, 247, 270, 286, 305, 306, 347, 399
• Velcro, 11–14, 24
• Venus, 54
• Vietnam War, 29, 30, 52, 80, 90, 94, 120, 151, 194
  • Smith in, 263–65
• Vilseck, Sandy, 91
• Vomit Comet, 110, 225, 235, 279–80
• von Braun, Wernher, 10, 40–41, 53, 62, 157, 158, 179, 417, 445
• Vostok 1, 43
• Vostok 6, 70

• Walcott, Dixon, 457
• Walker, Joe, 46
• Wasatch plant, 62, 160, 161, 163, 165, 179, 181, 251, 256, 257, 271–72, 312, 319, 330, 336
  • see also Promontory plant
• Washington Monthly, 122
• Washington Post, 121–23, 141
• Watergate scandal, 120, 379
• water survival training, 106–7
• Wear, Larry, 260–61
• weather
  • cold, see cold weather
  • dust storms, 297
  • electrical storms, 289–90, 303
  • winds, 303, 310, 318–19, 325, 341
• Webb, James, 24–27, 52, 54, 68, 71
• Weeks, Mike, 177, 259, 269–71
• Weightless Environment Training Facility, 110
• Weinberger, Caspar, 32
• Welch, Raquel, 279
• West, Larry, 311
• Whalum, Kirk, 452
• White, Ed, 8, 9, 145, 189
  • on Apollo 1 mission, 8, 9, 11–13, 15–21
    • death in, 20–21, 22–27, 29, 30, 60, 94, 369, 377, 426
• White Room, 20, 197, 308, 309, 317, 318, 339, 340, 348
• “Whitey on the Moon” (Scott-Heron), 31
• Wiggins, Cal, 319, 320, 322, 329, 387, 390, 394, 432
• Wiggins Company, 168, 169
• Williams, Robin, 229
• Williams, Vanessa, 174
• Wolfe, Tom, 74
• Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, 67
• Women’s National Aeronautic Association, 67
• World War II, 40, 67, 281, 295
• Wright brothers, 42
• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 76

• X-1, 81
• X-15, 45–46, 47–52, 101, 140
• X-20 Dyna-Soar, 41–43, 60
• X-24B, 81
• Xerox, 90

• Yardley, John, 119
• Yeager, Chuck, 74, 75, 80, 81, 382
• Young, Brigham, 160
• Young, Dick, 304–5
• Young, John, 15, 103–5, 109, 116, 151, 152, 155, 292, 295, 337, 338, 362, 372, 416, 428, 446
  • on Columbia flight, 122, 123, 127–31, 133–41
  • safety concerns of, 154

• Zarrella, John, 355
• zero gravity, 78, 110, 187, 275
• zipper effect, 138