---
product_id: 50689525
title: "Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster"
price: "VT9507"
currency: VUV
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first
store_origin: VU
region: Vanuatu
---

# Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster

**Price:** VT9507
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster
- **How much does it cost?** VT9507 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first)

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- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Description

Buy Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster 1 by White, Rowland (ISBN: 9780552160223) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: Brilliant book about the Space Shuttle - Rowland White writes a pulsating story about the evolution of space travel culminating in the technical masterpiece that is the Shuttle. Absolutely brilliantly researched and told in such a way that you will be riveted from start to finish. If you are a lover of acronyms you will just love this book!!
Review: Excellent read - Great detail on the early shuttle missions.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 127,130 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 12 in Mechanical & Material Engineering 34 in History of Engineering & Technology 70 in Aviation References |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,538) |
| Dimensions  | 12.9 x 3.78 x 19.76 cm |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 0552160229 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0552160223 |
| Item weight  | 439 g |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 640 pages |
| Publication date  | 4 May 2017 |
| Publisher  | Corgi |

## Images

![Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Urx2pXMVL.jpg)
![Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZHSi4GfbL.jpg)
![Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91k67MWV5mL.jpg)
![Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91mjc7BM6CL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant book about the Space Shuttle
*by S***S on 9 June 2025*

Rowland White writes a pulsating story about the evolution of space travel culminating in the technical masterpiece that is the Shuttle. Absolutely brilliantly researched and told in such a way that you will be riveted from start to finish. If you are a lover of acronyms you will just love this book!!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent read
*by C***E on 2 April 2025*

Great detail on the early shuttle missions.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The mostly right stuff
*by P***E on 4 January 2018*

Really enjoyed this. Nicely written, well researched, and I rattled through it quickly. He covers the development of the Shuttle right from the start during Apollo up to its first flight, with a brief appendix about its subsequent problems as well as a few brief mentions of the Soviet shuttle Buran. This is mainly told through the eyes of its first two astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen, as well as Crippen's other Air Force colleagues, especially Dick Truly. He takes the time to describe the main characters and you end up feeling like you know them, especially Crippen. The Air Force and related secret reconnaissance angle is especially interesting because it explains a lot about the politics and the main design decisions behind the Shuttle's development, without which a lot of it doesn't make sense. I was quite surprised at actually how quickly it was developed once the main design configuration had been sorted out. I found that towards the end there was a little too much breathless detail about the reconnaissance satellites which helped to allay fears about the heat shield. It's interesting that he's managed to get so much detail on it, but I lost track of the orbits. The same is true of some of the surrounding details of chase planes and infrared cameras following the landing - I didn't really understand why that mattered and it detracted a little from the main story and characters. Overall, he's surprisingly positive about the Shuttle and the people who designed and built it. One of very few people to be criticised is actually an aside about Buzz Aldrin, which seemed a bit mean (he was quoting John Young), and there are a few gentle criticisms of main designer Max Faget, but there's an argument to be much harsher on some of the basic design flaws - a heat shield too vulnerable during launch, and a lack of crew escape system. It left me wanting to know more about its subsequent development though, which is good, and I suppose it's good to focus on the bravery and ingenuity behind the Shuttle, not just its flaws. Good stuff.

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*Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu*
*Store origin: VU*
*Last updated: 2026-05-03*