Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center,

Episode 418, Ascension, looking back at the space shuttle. I'm Leah Cheshire, Mustachio, and I'll be your

host today. On this podcast, we bring in the experts, scientists, engineers, and astronauts, all to let you know

what's going on in the world of human spaceflight and more. The space shuttle is cemented

in spaceflight history and American culture as a symbol of dreaming, teamwork, and achieving

what was previously thought impossible. April 12th of this year marks 45 years since its first

flight, STS 1. Over 30 years and 135 flights, the shuttle allowed astronauts to conduct science, work on the Hubble

telescope, and construct our current home in low Earth orbit, the International Space Station.

The space shuttle program was marked by great tragedy and great triumph, ultimately flying

hundreds of astronauts before its retirement in 2011.

Stephen Hirshorn was an operations representative to the space shuttle orbit or project office,

working with the shuttle program for 16 years. Hershorn's book, Ascension, details the two-and-a-half-year

time period following the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew in 2003, and the lessons

learned from these events that engineers, managers, and leaders can take forth today. We'll talk through

Stephen's experience, the Columbia Tragedy, and the legacy of the shuttle program on this episode

of Houston, we have a podcast. This episode's topic was suggested by listener Rebecca via email.

If you have suggestions for future episodes, email us at NASA-Huston Podcast at mail.n.org.

Let's get started.

Let's get started.

Houston, we have a podcast.

Isn't we have a podcast.

Hi, Stephen, all the way from Goddard.

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