"This book, more than any other, distills and captures the historical essence of the Space Shuttle program from its post-Apollo inception to its winding down and retirement in 2011. The Shuttle program is the single most significant, and among the most inspirational, science and technology programs in human history to date. ... [The authors] assess the program's historic impact upon our technoculture as the world's premiere "big science" and "high technology" program, both in terms of its stunning and unique benefits and its immeasurable and troubling opportunity costs - both inspirational and practical."--P. vii.