Philip Chien has fashioned a poignant yet ultimately triumphant book about the last flight of our beloved old Columbia and her crew of dedicated astronauts. Through this book, and only this book, can we learn the true story of that flight, its importance to the scientific community, and the reasons for its tragic ending. Readers, whether they are interested in space or not, will be alternately enthralled, enchanted, dismayed, and finally lifted up by this stirring, true account of the flight that changed the American space program forever. - Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys (aka October Sky)
... I was always impressed with his very insightful questions and deep grasp of technical issues. As I have come to know him more I am profoundly impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of human spaceflight. I can think of no more dedicated journalist to write this book. He had come to know the crew very well in the long period prior to launch. ...This book has captured the essence of human spaceflight and the intricacies of space shuttle operations. ... - from the foreword by Dr. Jonathan Clark - widower of Columbia astronaut Laurel Clark.
Wow, your knowledge of human spaceflight programs is awesome! No one else could write this story. – Four time shuttle astronaut Tom Henricks, including two flights on Columbia.
This is really an excellent piece of work, I'm impressed with both the breadth & depth that you have covered the preparation of the mission as well as the actual flight. Also you have done a good job of describing the science and experiment facilities. – Dr. Jason Hatton, scientist on Columbia’s last mission and the very first person to realize Columbia was in trouble.
What a great read! You have captured the human side of spaceflight. I especially enjoyed the details about everyone involved in the STS-107 Shuttle mission from the astronauts to NASA management. Your descriptions of the science are outstanding and you made the science come alive. I am impressed with you knowledge of spaceflight and your ability to share it. - Millie Hughes-Fulford, astronaut and one of the STS-107 scientists.
MSNBC
This is a great read about the inside workings of NASA and the crews. Philip Chien is knowledgeable, accurate and well grounded in the details of the STS-107 mission.
This is the first book of its kind since it tells the whole story with inside knowledge of the people, process and manifest of Shuttle Columbia's last flight. Very few people know more about the Shuttle program than Philip Chien.
I have been a space enthusiast since I was 5 and have followed the NASA program from the early days of Mercury. This book has a wealth of information about the people, about the science and about the crew.
The Wall Street Journal needs to read this book and then retract its statement about " no good science onboard" published just days after the loss of Columbia and her crew.
Everyone who has an interest in the Space Program should buy a copy and read it!
Millie Hughes-Fulford, Ph.D.
To those of us on the flight control team at the JSC POCC during the Columbia tragedy, there were no words to convey our shock and sadness when the Shuttle failed to complete the final descent to Florida and broke up over the Deep East Texas Piney Woods region just north of Houston. This book is a fitting tribute to the courageous Columbia crew, returning home after a successful science mission with few technical problems on the newly outfitted SPACEHAB double module.
As indicated in the book synopsis, Phillip Chien captures the human side of the Columbia astronauts with whom the team worked so long preparing for the mission. He recounts personal details from interviews and research during the pre-flight period before flight, along with individual and group cameos throughout the mission.
I highly recommend this book for those interested in the human side of the space program, the long preparation that the crew practices to ready themselves for all mission tasks, their natural thrills within the low gravity environment and unique viewing perspective, and the every present danger associated with spaceflight. The author provides a compelling case for why the world must continue preparation and commitment to space exploration beyond near earth orbit, with even greater focus on protecting the fragile transport vessel and the astronauts within.
Just about anything and everything you wanted to know about Columbia's final mission is in this book. It does more than recount the accident and its aftermath; it devotes just as much attention to the valuable science that took place aboard STS-107, reconstructs the lives of the seven amazing men and women of Columbia's crew, and takes notice of the efforts of many folks behind the scenes of the mission. The book isn't just about the mission's terrible end; it's also a tribute to sixteen days of successful science, research and exploration, and to all the efforts required to sustain human space flight.
There have already been a few books written about Columbia's final mission, but Mr. Chien's encyclopedic book is going to be hard to beat. It's packed with excellent information and broad in its scope, yet still accessible to the reader. It's a magnificent effort, and an amazing tribute.
I think all of us now know most of the basics of the shuttle Columbia tragedy. However, Philip Chien has managed to capture the more human side of this National tragedy by introducing us into the lives of the astronauts and their individual missions. The way they thought and felt about the mission is revealed in candid detail.
Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut’s story should be particularly interesting to our Jewish community. His story is one that you might not have thought possible. Chien has given us a glimpse into Ilan’s life and his belief in the shuttle program and the endless possibilities it brings to the international community of man.
Reading this book is both poignant and uplifting and gives credibility to the idea of people from different backgrounds coming together as a team, making an effort towards scientific challenge and ultimately, the exploration of our vast universe! This is a must read for anyone interested in the last flight of Columbia (Nasa’s first Space Shuttle), the space program in general and especially the seven astronauts that gave their lives for a cause greater than themselves. I give it a thumbs up and think many of you who read this book will come away with a better understanding of the passion involved in preparing for a manned space flight!
Deborah Wright Trachtman,
The Table of Contents for the book.
A sneak peek at the book's companion CD-ROM.
Back to the introduction page.
The Reviews Are In!
Here's some independent reviews of "Columbia - Final Voyage".
"'Columbia: Final Voyage' is a look at the STS-107 mission," Chien said in an e-mail. "Not at the accident, but the mission and the people."
The Space Review
"In terms of explaining the mission itself, Columbia—Final Voyage is unparalleled, and unlikely to be equaled given the sheer amount of information Chien has compiled."
Space.com / Florida Today
"The research, when combined with interviews with family, colleagues and scientists, results in what may be the most detailed account that will ever be written about what happened in space during the mission."
Universe Today
"In the biographies, Chien puts a face to a name and a person to the face. ... His is a fair and honest book about the people and the mission. ... His own involvement with the shuttle operations comes through as he provides information regarding systems, structures and procedures, though not so much as to overload the reader. In total, he's produced a warm memorial both for the people and the mission. "
Amazon.com
Fantastic Perspective, March 5, 2006
Reviewer: Millie Hughes-fulford (Mill Valley, CA USA)
Professor and Medical Investigator
Columbia Astronaut STS-40
Fitting Tribute to the Columbia Crew, March 19, 2006
Reviewer: Robert A. Robinson (Huntsville, AL USA)
An amazing tribute, March 25, 2006
Reviewer: Jodie Peeler (South Carolina, USA)
Jewish Federation of Brevard
Managing Editor
ISBN 0-387-27148-1copyright 2005 Philip Chien All Rights Reserved