The Dream Is Alive: Space Flight and Operations in Earth Orbit

by Ernest Maurer

Overview

Originally published in 1991, The Dream Is Alive: Space Flight and Operations in Earth Orbit remains a valuable reference for teachers, aerospace professionals, and space enthusiasts. This now historical look at the United States manned space program and legacy spacecraft including the Space Shuttle and Space Station helps to define today’s initiatives in space. Complex systems are described in a simple and logical approach suitable for high school or college students. The Dream Is Alive also details the facilities and management of NASA and the policies surrounding technology development. It serves as an excellent textbook for an introductory course in astronautics and includes chapters on Orbital Mechanics, Spacecraft Systems, the Space Transportation System (shuttle stack components, orbiter structure and systems, mission operations and support, flight crew training, extravehicular mobility unit), Space Station Freedom (goals and design, flight elements, systems), Military Space Systems, Strategic Defense Initiative, National Aero-Space Plane, and The Future. Explanations of hardware are reinforced with over 210 photographs and illustrations.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940016112787
Publisher:	Geosync Publications
Publication date:	12/16/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Maurer has taught aviation and space courses at the college level since 1978, serves as Orange Coast College's Professor of Aviation & Space, and teaches graduate courses in the MAS program for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an active pilot who owns a Cessna R172 and has been flying since 1969. He holds a Commercial certificate-Airplane SE Land & Sea, Multi-engine Land, Instrument Airplane, Glider; he also holds a Rotorcraft-Helicopter, Cessna Citation CE-500 ratings, and FEX(w). Dr. Maurer is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFII & MEI) and holds Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor ratings. He is the author of The Dream Is Alive: Space Flight and Operations in Earth Orbit (Geosync, ©1991). His current research interests include Crew Exploration Vehicle development, FAA requirements for commercial spaceflight, and applying Crew Resource Management techniques to hospital staff in the ER and ICU.
Maurer grew up in Parma, Ohio graduating from Cuyahoga Community College in 1972 and went on to Kent State University where he received his B.S. in Education in 1973. He received his Master of Arts in Technology in 1976. Dr. Maurer served as the Dean of Technology and Dean of Career Education from 1984 until 1995. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1986 in Organizational and Administrative Studies in Higher Education with a cognate in Computer Information Systems at the Anderson Graduate School of Management. His dissertation on the obstacles to the Implementation of Computer-aided Instruction helped define the data and network specifications for the OCC's $11 million Technology Center, construction of which he oversaw.

He is an international lecturer and has participated in four annual technical workshops in the Republic of China, sponsored by Community Colleges for International Development, both as project team leader and lecturer. For this work, he received four citations from the Taiwan Minister of Education. He serves as a consultant to the aerospace industry and has written many articles and commentaries on the space program in addition to lecturing to community groups about the U.S. space program.