Shuttle Down

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Shuttle Down (ISBN 978-0345292629) 1981 is a novel by American author G. Harry Stine, written under the nom de plume Lee Correy^[1]. The book can best be described as an early form of the Techno Thriller genre to which books by authors such as Tom Clancy tend to belong.

In the book, the Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on a polar orbit launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. During the launch, the main engines cut off prematurely and the shuttle is forced to make an emergency landing on Rapa Nui, better known to most of the world as Easter Island.

Landing is just the start of the problems for NASA, who now have to deal with the immense technological challenge of getting the shuttle back home. Problems include lack of documents for the astronauts and shuttle, bringing in the crane that's used to lift the shuttle onto the specially modified 747 that carries it, widening the runway to accommodate the 747, building turn-arounds on the runway so that it can turn and take off again, bringing in fuel for the plane and many, many other problems.

A subplot involves efforts by the Soviet Union to take the shuttle for themselves.

In real life, and shortly after publication of this book, the United States paid the Chilean Government to improve the facilities at Mataveri International Airport on Rapa Nui in case of just such an emergency, and the airport now has a relatively long runway.

In addition, astronauts now carry passports and other documents in case of emergency landings.