Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011

Outward Odyssey: A People's History of Space

By: Rick Houston

Narrated by: James Killavey

Humanity's first reusable spacecraft and the most complex machine ever built, NASA's space shuttle debuted with great promise and as a dependable source of wonder and national pride. But with the Challenger catastrophe in 1986, the whole space shuttle program came into question, as did NASA itself, so long an institution that was seemingly above reproach.

Wheels Stop tells the stirring story of how, after the Challenger disaster, the space shuttle not only recovered but went on to perform its greatest missions. From the Return to Flight mission of STS-26 in 1988 to the last shuttle mission ever on STS-135 in 2011, Wheels Stop takes listeners behind the scenes as the shuttle's crews begin to mend Cold War tensions with the former Soviet Union, conduct vital research, deploy satellites, repair the Hubble Space Telescope, and assist in constructing the International Space Station. It also tells the heart-wrenching story of the Columbia tragedy and the loss of the magnificent STS-107 crew.

As complex as the shuttle was, the people it carried into orbit were often more so - and this is their story, too. Close encounters with astronauts, flight controllers, and shuttle workers capture the human side of the space shuttle's amazing journey - and invite listeners along for the ride.

The book is published by University of Nebraska Press.

©2013 Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"With the Space Shuttle program now at an end, documenting the amazing thirty-year career of these iconic orbiters holds an untold amount of historical importance. Spaceflight isn't easy, people pay in blood and sweat to make it happen. Rick Houston lends a voice to some of the key people involved in what is not only an American treasure but a global superstar." (Chris Bergin, NASASpaceflight.com)

"Enthusiastic portrayal of the heroic age of American space travel." ( Publishers Weekly)

More about people than machinery

What did you love best about Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011?

The personal anecdotes...actual words and memories of the Astronauts and the people in Mission Control. The kind of stuff you never saw or heard on TV.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011?

The first disaster. Those of us who saw it on TV will never forget it. RIP to them all.

What does James Killavey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For one thing, I was able to "read" it while driving to work, jogging etc...things I could never do with a print book. The reading itself, in my opinion, was quite good..well paced and intelligently read. Hence, my five stars.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wheels Stop is fine.

Any additional comments?

Hoping there will be more from this author on this subject and hoping he will use the same narrator. So far, this seems to be the only one by Mr. Houston.

good story, bad narrator

Title says it all. If you like a mix of Kent Brockman and Bernie Sanders as a narrator, this book is for you. But that accent drove me crazy

Narration terrible

Had to quit after two chapters because the narration is unlistenable -- stiff and stilted with too many words mispronounced (e.g., nuclear as "nukeleear".)

Good story, REALLY disliked the narration.

It's a good summary of the shuttle program. Frustrating to watch the program end without any kind of replacement (hardly the fault of the author). But I just couldn't stand listening to the narrator. His voice, inflections, and pronunciations were like nails on a chalkboard.

Good book, and ok narrator

I really liked the book. Lots of details and stories from missions. However two things really annoyed me with the narrator.
1. He has to learn how to pronounce dates..
2. His voice was monotonous, but every time he was narrating a woman, he would try a very soft voice. When narrating non Americans, he would try to speak in an accent. A horrible, horrible accent...

Very good book

Would you consider the audio edition of Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011 to be better than the print version?

Yes, in that sense that I was able to through it at times were I could not read a print version..driving, jogging etc.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to list

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wheels Stop sounds fine to me.

Any additional comments?

Personal anecdotes from the people involved was what made the book interesting and the reader did a good job which certainly helped.

This was the worst narrator ever.

The story was interesting, but I had to convince myself more than a few times to stay with it, this guy narrating was awful. I'll make sure I write his name down to steer clear of him in the future. ù_

Poor Performance

Loved the information but the performance is unbelievably bad. The reader is doing his best Ted Baxter impression...totally distracting. I wish I would have read the book instead. I would have given the performance 0 stars but the application would’nt let me

The bible doesn’t hold a candle to this masterpiece! …until you hear it.

This book is a treasure chest waiting to be opened full of stories from the Space Shuttle Program- many that most of us never knew! And I’m such a STS nerd that I have one tattooed on my leg! So I thought I knew a thing or two about it’s +30 year triumphant (and tragic) era. Wow was I misinformed! The stories, quotes, recounts and every thing in between chronicling NASA’s finest era is a book that will forever be ‘tattooed’ onto my mind and imagination.

HOWEVER- the narrator reading this story is absolutely AWFUL. I was never fond of his portrayal from the beginning, but I was able to bare through it. Until he quoted Eileen Collins, distinguished astronaut, using a borderline offense and inappropriate ‘female voice.’ This narrator is butchering this work of art and history with his awful voice! It is down right offensive and insulting. Shame on him!

But the book itself is SPECULAR & STELLAR!

Up close and personal

Where does Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011?

The two tragedies.

What does James Killavey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good reader. Made the experience very enjoyable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No...too long.

Any additional comments?

Loved the way the author used candid reflections of some of those involved in the Shuttle Program. Made for an "up[ close and personal" look at this incredible era of Space Flight.