Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut's Story of Invention (Lemelson Center Studies in Invention and Innovation series)

The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, revealing thousands of galaxies in previously empty patches of sky, transforming our knowledge of black holes, finding dwarf planets with moons orbiting other stars, and measuring precisely how fast the universe is expanding.

But did you know that maintainability was designed into this incredible observatory from the very beginning? In Handprints on Hubble, retired astronaut Kathryn Sullivan shares her personal story of working on the NASA team that made it all possible.

As one of the first American women to walk in space, Sullivan recounts her early life as a "Sputnik Baby," her path to NASA through oceanography, and her initiation into the space program as one of "thirty-five new guys." She describes in vivid detail what liftoff feels like inside a spacecraft, shows us the view from a spacewalk, and recounts the temporary grounding of the shuttle program after the Challenger disaster.

But it's not just Sullivan's personal story that makes this book so compelling - it's also a detailed account of how NASA invented the tools and processes necessary for on-orbit maintenance, allowing them to fix a serious defect in Hubble's mirrors and leave literal and metaphorical "handprints on Hubble." Whether you're a space enthusiast, an engineer, or simply someone who loves a good story of perseverance and innovation, Handprints on Hubble is a must-read.

So why wait? Order your copy today and discover the incredible story behind one of the most important scientific instruments in history!