How NASA Learned to Fly in Space: An Exciting Account of the Gemini Missions: Apogee Books Space Series 46 - Softcover

Harland, David M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1894959078 ISBN 13: 9781894959070

Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc., 2004

Synopsis

The social context in which NASA learned to fly in space, with an explicit mandate to reach the moon set against a tight deadline, is described in this historical analysis.

About this title

From the Author:

For generations human beings stared at the Moon, dreaming of one day visiting it. Finally, with the orbiting of Sputnik in 1957, space travel began to look as if it would be feasible. In a remarkable speech in 1961, John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States of America, set his nation the goal of landing a man on the Moon before the decade was out. But how was this to be achieved? The barely started Mercury missions were opening the door to manned space craft, the new program would have to pass through that door into the true realm of piloted space flight. It was decided to introduce an interim program between Mercury and Apollo, called Gemini, to develop the operational techniques necessary for spaceflight. This would 'write the book', yield a wealth of technology, a pool of flight controllers and a cadre of experienced astronauts for the Apollo program. With 10 manned Gemini missions in 1965-1966, the pace ws hectic, but by the time it ws over, orbital rendezvous ws no longer the concern that it had been in 1962 when NASA had committed Apollo to renezvous in lunar orbit. So the foundation of Gemini's legacy was the security of knowing that Apollo was feasible. This book isn’t an official history, nor does it delve into the finances of the Program, nor does it trace the paper trail through the decision-making. It is the story of how NASA learned to fly in space. As it is a story of exciting times, I have drawn on the transcripts to recreate the sense of drama. Quotations have been edited for clarity, for brevity, and to eliminate the intermingling that is characteristic of spontaneous conversation. Nevertheless, I have preserved the sense of the moment. I have also attempted to explain orbital rendezvous in order to enable the reader to share in the astronauts’ delight when things went to plan and their frustration when – as happened all too often – they did not.

About the Author:

David M. Harland is a space historian and the author of Exploring The Moon: The Apollo Expeditions, The Story of the Space Shuttle, and The Story of the Space Station Mir.

About this edition

• Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1894959078
• ISBN 13: 9781894959070
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288