Product Description

"The Apollo Program was a worthy successor of the great exploring expeditions of mankind from the Phoenician voyagers to the Antarctic sledgers. And now we have an articulate tale of the moon venture from one of those whose footsteps have been left behind on our satellite. Reading this book is next best to having been there." -- Isaac Asimov

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1177380 in Books
• Published on: 1989-06-01
• Released on: 1989-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 314 pages

From Library Journal
To coincide with the 20th anniversary this July of the first manned lunar landing, these books provide intimate accounts of how NASA accomplished the national goal of putting a man on the moon before the end of the decade. In his book, Aldrin, the second man on the moon, interweaves the story of U.S. and Soviet efforts to reach the moon with his first-hand experience flying both the Gemini and Apollo missions during the height of the space race. His recounting of his two space flights is compelling, especially the account of the nearly aborted Apollo 11 lunar landing. In contrast to Aldrin's astronaut's point of view, Murray and Cox's book tells the Apollo story through the eyes of the NASA managers who guided the men and machines from the early days of the Space Task Group to the Apollo lunar missions. The result is the best account to date of how the enormous program was successfully accomplished. Full of insiders' anecdotes, this book truly humanizes the lunar landing story that too often has been told only in technological and bureaucratic terms. Relying heavily on interviews with the people behind the scenes, the authors vividly capture the spirit of Apollo, its triumphs and tragedies, and its ultimate success. When considering the likely demand for Apollo histories surrounding the anniversary, Aldrin's account may be considered complementary to his Apollo 11 crewmate Michael Collins's recent space history, Liftoff ( LJ 8/88). A review of Douglas MacKinnon and Joseph Baldanza's Footprints: The 12 Men Who Walked on the Moon Reflect on Their Flights, Their Lives and the Future , to be published by Acropolis in July, is scheduled to appear in our next issue.-- Ed. But for libraries considering only one title, Murray and Cox's book should be considered the essential purchase.
- Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll., Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Out of this World
Truly a book I could hardly put down once I began to read. Not only is this book a facinating history lesson it is exciting to read and more interesting than fiction because it really happened. The book documents the whole space race including how one man "Buzz" was determined to become an astronaut and what obstacles he had to overcome to become one. His life was almost unimaginable and must rank near the top in one of the most facinating autobiographies ever written (in my opinion of course). All (or what is available) details on the Russian space program are placed chronologically through the book to show where the Russian space program was the same time as the Americans. I wish they had kept this book in print because I would like to get it for a gift for one friend who is an ex desert storm soldier and another who was involved in the space program and got to see the famous german scientists who helped the US win the race to the moon. Truly an excellent book!

Another fine book by Buzz Aldrin/Apollo 11
This book is almost as good as Buzz's first book--Return To Earth from early 70's. Dr. Aldrin at least takes his time and makes the effort to share the Apollo 11 experience with us and also what was happening [space related] in America and in RUSSIA during Cold War/ Space race era, and compares the two " superpowers'" and what was happening at both places at same time intervals in the 60's. Much research and time spent in book

The best book on the Apollo program I have read
When there is a discussion regarding the creation of a vast new technology, proponents generally use the phrase, "Manhattan project for _________." This is of course a reference to the vast project that led to the development of the atomic bomb. It surprises me that this is used rather than a reference to the Apollo project that put people on the moon. To date, no one has found a use for nuclear weapons other than destruction, but the technical and psychological benefits of the American space program were tremendous. Both projects were enormous in scope and success required the invention of whole new technologies.
Buzz Aldrin was one of three astronauts in the Apollo 11 mission and the second man to walk on the moon. He was a fighter pilot, but like the rest of the early astronaut corps, combined that with a great deal of intelligence. Buzz earned a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in manned space rendezvous. Therefore, he understands a great deal of the theory behind the movement of space vehicles, which was very helpful in the early days of trying to rendezvous with another space vehicle.
This book is his recollection of the American space program; from the time the first German V2 delivered a deadly warhead to the ignominious aftermath of the Apollo program. His fundamental understanding of many of the principles of space flight is evident, making this different from most of the other histories of the American space program. He also creates two parallel time tracks, one describing the American successes and the other the actions of the Soviets.
Those who understand the history of the times realize that the greatest single impetus for the American space program occurred in the Soviet Union. Their launching of the Sputnik satellite and then the more incredible event of orbiting Yuri Gagarin created a great deal of anxiety in the United States and led to the "space race." While it was a source of great national pride and tremendous technical advancement, the space programs of the two superpowers was just another area of competition. Aldrin explains, as best he could in 1989, how the Soviet Union was able to accomplish what it did. Since most Soviet records were still unavailable at that time, there are many occasions when he resorts to informed speculation.
Aldrin was selected for the astronaut corps in 1963, while the Mercury project was still active. He describes the talent of the astronauts, as well as their fiercely competitive camaraderie. These people were fighter pilots and combat veterans. While they competed with the enemy for their lives and with their fellow pilots for advancement and glory, they also shared the common bonds of people who choose the life of danger. This is the best book about the Apollo program that I have read. Aldrin's combination of astronaut insider and knowledge of the technical details is what made it that way.