Virtual Apollo, A Pictorial Essay of the Engineering and Construction of the Apollo Command and Service Modules

Sullivan, Scott P.

Published by Apogee Books, Burlington, Canada, 2002

About this Item

"Rare book. Also inside: "The Launch Escape System Boost Protective Cover". This book is an extraordinary piece of work. Computer animated 3-D colored engineering drawings of the spacecraft and it's system like this had not been available at the time of manufacture of this spacecraft… In fiction, spaceships are either flying "saucers" or large, sleek aerodynamic bullets. In the real world, humanity's first true spacecraft was a conventional cylinder, barely large enough to accommodate three astronauts. The Command and Service modules made up the Apollo spacecraft - an integration of more than 3 million precision components, comprising the most intricate machine ever created by mankind. Each Apollo spacecraft was an amazing amalgamation of state-of-the-art high technology and hand worked craftsmanship. During each Apollo mission attention was focused on the astronauts, with their marvelous spacecraft impinging on the public's awareness only at take-off and splashdown. But during all the days of each mission the Apollo Command and Service Modules performed faithfully and almost flawlessly, 24 hours a day, keeping three men alive and comfortable, maintaining Communications, and monitoring themselves, äs well äs the astronauts, the Earth and the Moon. With this book, for the first time the public can become acquainted with the Apollo spacecraft in detail and learn the story of its design and construction. Füll color renderings in exacting detail provide an array of views of the Command and Service Modules complete with details of construction and fabrication. The Apollo spacecraft is the most intricate and exacting machine ever built, and it had to be äs near to perfect äs it could be made, every time. With over 3 million components, a performance record of 99.9% would still leave 3,000 parts that could fail - any one of which might result in the deaths of the crew. With the exception of Apollo 13, the spacecraft liyed up to expectations on every lunar mission, and even Apollo 13, after a major explosion, managed to circle the Moon and bring its crew home safely. Virtual Apollo is a book long overdue; the care and completeness with which it has been created speak for themselves. Thanks to the dedication and hard work that have gone into this book, we can now truly appreciate the magnificent machine that was the Apollo spacecraft and marvel at the achievements of the many thousands of engineers and technicians who stayed on Earth but were on the mission every step of the way." 128 p. hundreds of color 3-D drawings very good condition, with a name sticker of the previous owner.

Seller Inventory # 25493

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Virtual Apollo, A Pictorial Essay of the Engineering and Construction of the Apollo Command and Service Modules
• Publisher: Apogee Books, Burlington, Canada
• Publication Date: 2002
• Binding: Softcover