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    The Last Shuttle
    The Last Shuttle
    The Last Shuttle
    Ebook107 pages1 hour

    The Last Shuttle

    By Tom Glover

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    For nearly two decades, a top-secret NASA space telescope kept watch on the Solar System’s closest neighbor, star system Alpha Centauri, in the hopes of detecting life-sustaining planets. Inexplicably, the satellite’s orbit was beginning to decay, its mission about to come to an abrupt end as it would soon enter Earth’s upper atmosphere and vaporize. There was one man alive who could prevent the accident. Forced by his former boss into a daring rescue mission, ex-NASA scientist Dr. Frank Carver reluctantly joins the crew of re-commissioned space shuttle Discovery, with one simple objective: recover the satellite’s secret data. He would soon discover that mission was anything but simple.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTom Glover
    Release dateOct 15, 2011
    ISBN9781465911759
    The Last Shuttle
    Author

    Tom Glover

    Tom Glover graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology in 1985 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and has spent his professional career in high-tech business management. A passion for space exploration and NASA provided the inspiration for his first novel, "The Last Shuttle." He lives in Houston, Texas with his wife, Kim, son Brandon and bonus-son Thomas.

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    • 3/5
      I was given a free copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads draw.The writing is ok and initially reads as a standard adventure, but nothing to write home about. I found myself bored by the central character and could easily predict what would happen next. This was a shame because of the writers obvious knowledge of the subject matter.I was going to give up on it until the first descriptions of the aliens. Here was the element of mystery needed and I could not predict the narrative so easily. I became more interested in the text and finished.I was left wanting to learn more about the new species.I think that this works as a good read. I would rather read,more polished text and be kept surprised throughout the story.

    Book preview

    The Last Shuttle - Tom Glover

    The Last Shuttle

    By

    Tom Glover

    Copyright© 2011 Tom Glover

    SECOND EDITION: April 2014

    ISBN: 978-1465911759 (ebook)

    ISBN: 978-1466467286 (print)

    All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

    This is a work of fiction. All of the characters names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

    Smashwords Edition, License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

    With special thanks to Kim,

    for unwavering support and invaluable assistance.

    Author’s Note

    This story is dedicated to all who contributed to NASA’s Space Transportation System: the scientists and engineers who conceived it, the technicians who executed it, the administrators who managed it, the contractors who supported it, the brave astronauts who risked, and even gave, their lives for it. Your innovative spirit and passion for exploring the unknown represent the best of mankind. Each Space Shuttle flight advanced our understanding of the universe. Inspired, I look to the future with anticipation as the adventure continues….

    Table of Contents

    Prologue

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Epilogue

    Sneak Preview of Sentinel

    About the Author

    Prologue

    Winter, 2011

    For nearly two decades, the space-borne telescope kept a vigilant eye on the Solar System’s closest neighbor, star system Alpha Centauri, a mere 4.4 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. Now, after twenty years of steadfast duty—barely halfway into its designed service life—NASA’s top secret Extra-solar Search Satellite and Emission system, E.S.S.E., was in trouble. Inexplicably, the satellite’s orbit was decaying. Affectionately nicknamed Essie by the small group of scientists that designed her, the satellite had only weeks to live.

    Maintaining a geosynchronous orbit 1,000 miles above Earth’s surface, Essie’s mission was to focus her ten-meter radio telescope on the binary stars in the Alpha Centauri system in the hopes of detecting life-sustaining planets. That mission was about to come to an abrupt end, as Essie would soon enter Earth’s upper atmosphere and vaporize. She was destined for a lonely death.

    There was one man alive who could save her. Unfortunately for Essie, he thought she was better off dead.

    Chapter 1

    Spring, 2012

    E.S.S.E. Status: 28 Days to Atmosphere Re-Entry

    We need Frank Carver. He designed the damn thing. The President’s Science Advisor, a tall, thin, crabby man named Jenkins, was growing impatient with all of the unknowns in what was becoming an alarming situation. Typical of NASA, this mission briefing offered more questions than answers.

    NASA’s second in command, a hawkish, chain-smoking Deputy Administrator named Benson Davis, sat behind a modest mahogany desk in his Johnson Space Center office and shrugged defensively. Six months ago he took early retirement and went off-the-grid. We’ve been looking for him for three days; we don’t know where he is. Ignoring the local ordinance banning workplace smoking, he took one last drag from his cigarette before using the lit end to start another.

    Well, Ben, I guess you had better find him, fast. I’ll be damned if I’m going to recommend to the Vice President that he authorize some half-assed rescue mission for a satellite no one knows or cares about if you can’t guarantee you can fix the damn thing. And since you don’t even know what the problem is, I assume you need Carver to explain it to you.

    Davis was silent. He knew his team needed much more than just an explanation. Engineers at NASA did not know enough about Essie’s archaic power system to diagnose the problem or devise a solution. With no other options remaining, Davis reluctantly admitted he needed Dr. Franklin Carver’s engineering genius once again, and had no choice but to find and somehow convince him to help save Essie. Unfortunately, given their personal history, he expected his former colleague to be uncooperative at best.

    Perhaps his luck had finally run out. If the satellite could not be fixed, she would go down in flames, bringing his remarkable career down with her.

    After a few tense moments of silence with the President’s Science Advisor staring him down, Davis collected himself and made a promise he doubted he could keep. Rest assured we’ll find Carver and come up with a solution before the end of the week. In the meantime, I need you to get me a space shuttle. He smiled thinly as he nervously stubbed out his cigarette.

    Chapter 2

    E.S.S.E. Status: 22 Days to Atmosphere Re-Entry

    Get out!

    Dr. Franklin Carver was furious. He had booked this Rocky Mountain retreat almost a year ago, with plans to get away from it all after cashing out of his job as head of R&D with Lockheed Martin. And now some jarhead MPs were standing in the doorway asking him to climb aboard their Twin Huey helicopter and leave behind his week of fresh mountain air and rainbow trout fishing. He hadn’t even unpacked the jeep yet.

    Dr. Carver, we are here on an urgent matter of national security. Our orders are to escort you to Denver, where a seat aboard a C-130 has been reserved for you. You must accompany us ASAP.

    Screw you, I’m not leaving. Who the hell sent you, anyway?

    "I’m

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