--- 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: "€ 31.67" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first store_origin: GR region: Greece --- # Thrilling race-against-time narrative Newly declassified insider info First-ever Space Shuttle flight Into the Black: The electrifying true story of how the first flight of the Space Shuttle nearly ended in disaster **Price:** € 31.67 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🚀 Unlock the untold story of the Space Shuttle’s daring first flight — don’t miss the mission that changed history! ## Quick Answers - **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?** € 31.67 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Feel the High-Stakes Drama:** A nail-biting account of a mission that nearly ended in disaster but redefined spaceflight. - • **Meet the Legendary Astronauts:** Follow John Young and Bob Crippen, pioneers with the ultimate 'Right Stuff'. - • **Uncover Hidden Cold War Secrets:** Exclusive insights from newly declassified NASA and Pentagon documents. - • **Masterfully Researched & Accessible:** Rowland White’s expert storytelling blends technical depth with captivating narrative. - • **Experience the Dawn of Space Shuttle Era:** Dive into the electrifying maiden flight of Columbia, the world’s first real spaceship. ## Overview Into the Black chronicles the groundbreaking 1981 maiden voyage of NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia, revealing the intense technical challenges and near-disasters faced by astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen. Drawing on fresh interviews and newly declassified documents, this expertly researched account offers a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at a mission that redefined space exploration and ignited a new era of aviation innovation. ## Description On 12th April 1981 a revolutionary new spacecraft blasted off from Florida on her maiden flight. NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia was the most advanced flying machine ever built – the high watermark of post-war aviation development. A direct descendant of the record-breaking X-planes the likes of which Chuck Yeager had tested in the skies over the Mojave Desert, Columbia was a winged rocket plane, the size of an airliner, capable of flying to space and back before being made ready to fly again. She was the world’s first real spaceship. On board were men with the Right Stuff. The Shuttle’s Commander, moonwalker John Young, was already a veteran of five spaceflights. Alongside him, Pilot Bob Crippen was making his first, but Crip, taken in by the space agency after the cancellation of a top secret military space station programme in 1969, had worked on the Shuttle’s development for a decade. Never before had a crew been so well prepared for their mission. Yet less than an hour after Young and Crippen’s spectacular departure from the Cape it was clear that all was not well. Tiles designed to protect Columbia from the blowtorch burn of re-entry were missing from the heatshield. If the damage to their ship was too great the astronauts would be unable to return safely to earth. But neither they nor mission control possessed any way of knowing. Instead, NASA turned to the National Reconnaissance Office, a spy agency hidden deep inside the Pentagon whose very existence was classified. To help, the NRO would attempt something that had never been done before. Success would require skill, pinpoint timing and luck … Drawing on brand new interviews with astronauts and engineers, archive material and newly declassified documents, Rowland White, bestselling author of Vulcan 607 , has pieced together the dramatic untold story of the mission for the first time. Into the Black is a thrilling race against time; a gripping high stakes cold-war story, and a celebration of a beyond the state-of-the-art machine that, hailed as one of the seven new wonders of the world, rekindled our passion for spaceflight. *With a foreword by Astronaut Richard Truly* ‘Beautifully researched and written, Into the Black tells the true, complete story of the Space Shuttle better than it’s ever been told before.’ Colonel Chris Hadfield, former Astronaut and Space Station Commander ‘Brilliantly revealed, Into the Black is the finely tuned true story of the first flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia . Rowland White has magnificently laid bare the unknown dangers and unseen hazards of that first mission … Once read, not forgotten.’ Clive Cussler Review: Really well written - Excellent book if you like Apollo and space travel stuff Review: I love the way Rowland White writes and being able to ... - This is an extremely informative account leading up to and through the first mission of the space shuttle. I love the way Rowland White writes and being able to produce a fact based but almost conversational narrative to the technical depths he achieves is outstanding. It is clear that he dedicated much time and thought to this book. I noticed how some reviewers have criticised White for darting around between different subjects and characters with little introduction or warning. I can understand these opinions but feel one must remember that this is not a work of fiction. I read the first 5 (all be it very short) chapters twice to try to get a better grounding of who these Astronauts are. Unsurprisingly, almost all had very similar backgrounds (and it turns out similar names!) - therefore if you aren't instantly familiar with who John G, John Y, Bob, Joe, Dick, Rick, Fred or Ted are the second time their name appears then a few seconds spent checking might make the book flow smoothly, as it soon did for me. White has written a factual account of a highly technical subject in a manner that is as accessible for as many people as possible. It is a very difficult line to tread and the balance will undoubtedly upset some. However, for me, it was spot on. I would be surprised if anyone could read this account without learning fascinating information but you might just also get swept up in the passion so many had for the Shuttle and perhaps gain a new level of appreciation for what was achieved and what we now no longer have. I do not think it would be possible to obtain this information in a more enjoyable or easily accessible account than this book. I thank Rowland for researching and writing it, and I for one shall miss reading it! ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 197,623 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 92 in Mechanical & Material Engineering 152 in Aviation References 203 in History of Engineering & Technology | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,569 Reviews | ## 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/91mjc7BM6CL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really well written *by A***R on 21 July 2026* Excellent book if you like Apollo and space travel stuff ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love the way Rowland White writes and being able to ... *by A***R on 17 September 2016* This is an extremely informative account leading up to and through the first mission of the space shuttle. I love the way Rowland White writes and being able to produce a fact based but almost conversational narrative to the technical depths he achieves is outstanding. It is clear that he dedicated much time and thought to this book. I noticed how some reviewers have criticised White for darting around between different subjects and characters with little introduction or warning. I can understand these opinions but feel one must remember that this is not a work of fiction. I read the first 5 (all be it very short) chapters twice to try to get a better grounding of who these Astronauts are. Unsurprisingly, almost all had very similar backgrounds (and it turns out similar names!) - therefore if you aren't instantly familiar with who John G, John Y, Bob, Joe, Dick, Rick, Fred or Ted are the second time their name appears then a few seconds spent checking might make the book flow smoothly, as it soon did for me. White has written a factual account of a highly technical subject in a manner that is as accessible for as many people as possible. It is a very difficult line to tread and the balance will undoubtedly upset some. However, for me, it was spot on. I would be surprised if anyone could read this account without learning fascinating information but you might just also get swept up in the passion so many had for the Shuttle and perhaps gain a new level of appreciation for what was achieved and what we now no longer have. I do not think it would be possible to obtain this information in a more enjoyable or easily accessible account than this book. I thank Rowland for researching and writing it, and I for one shall miss reading it! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very interesting. *by R***E on 16 June 2026* Gives a good description of life in space. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/50689525-into-the-black-the-electrifying-true-story-of-how-first) --- *Product available on Desertcart Greece* *Store origin: GR* *Last updated: 2026-09-07*