Featuring a stunning four-foot-high, fold-out, pop-up model of the NASA space shuttle, an interactive guide packed with illustrations, photographs, and facts explains how the shuttle flies and what life is life for astronauts on a mission.
Is it a book? Is it a wall chart? No, it's your own personal space shuttle! Not one your kids can actually climb into, but almost. Concealed within the booklike hard covers--and unfolding as magically and improbably as a life raft--is a four-foot-tall model of NASA's stubby white bird. The cargo bay opens to reveal a removable communications satellite, complete with solar panels; and there's a fully articulated robotic arm for lifting the satellite into "space." The shuttle's wings unfold, and colorful informational panels on both sides of the main pop-up explain everything a young Mission Specialist could want to know about, from training in water tanks to chasing spheres of weightless orange juice. There are lots of facts, too: flight dynamics, noise levels at lift-off, cargo capacity, how much heat the shield can take, etc. Younger fingers will need a little help getting the whole thing unfolded and the bits and pieces tucked into place without damage. With a bit of tape, the whole thing could easily be mounted on a bedroom wall. A must for any aspiring space explorer! (Ages 5 and older) --Richard Farr
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