Short Synopsis
Timed to release for the fifteenth Anniversary of the Columbia space shuttle disaster, this is the epic true story of one of the most dramatic, unforgettable adventures of our time.

Full Synopsis
On February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated on reentry before the nation's eyes, and all seven astronauts aboard were lost. Author Mike Leinbach, Launch Director of the space shuttle program at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center was a key leader in the search and recovery effort as NASA, FEMA, the FBI, the US Forest Service, and dozens more federal, state, and local agencies combed an area of rural east Texas the size of Rhode Island for every piece of the shuttle and her crew they could find. Assisted by hundreds of volunteers, it would become the largest ground search operation in US history.

For the first time, here is the definitive inside story of the Columbia disaster and recovery and the inspiring message it ultimately holds. In the aftermath of tragedy, people and communities came together to help bring home the remains of the crew and nearly forty percent of shuttle, an effort that was instrumental in piecing together what happened so the shuttle program could return to flight and complete the International Space Station. Bringing Columbia Home shares the deeply personal stories that emerged as NASA employees looked for lost colleagues and searchers overcame immense physical, logistical, and emotional challenges and worked together to accomplish the impossible.

“A gripping account of a fatal tragedy and the impressive and deeply emotional human response that ensued.” ---Kirkus Starred Review

“Gripping and dramatic . . . It’s an important and fascinating chapter in space history, and it finally gets the full treatment it deserves. As told by someone who was involved in the effort from the beginning, it’s also a deeply personal and moving story.” ---Booklist

“Fast-paced and affecting . . . It is a moving and sometimes uncomfortably close account. . . . The unadorned, multisensory narration richly depicts the emotions and everyday acts of heroism of all involved.” ---Publishers Weekly

“How glowing is our praise of this book? It simply cannot be higher. This book needs to be required reading in high schools and colleges across the United States.” ---Spaceflight Insider

Kirkus Review