Apollo Expeditions to the Moon: The NASA History 50th Anniversary Edition (Dover Books on Astronomy)

Relive the incredible journey of Apollo Expeditions to the Moon as you flip through this special anniversary edition. Hear fascinating stories from engineers, astronauts, and administrators, while admiring stunning color photos of the epic project.

This special edition of Apollo Expeditions to the Moon, an official NASA publication, commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the July 20, 1969, Moon landing with a thrilling insider's view of the space program.  Essays by participants — engineers, astronauts, and administrators — recall the program's unprecedented challenges. Written in direct, jargon-free language, this compelling adventure features more than 160 dazzling color photographs and scores of black-and-white illustrations.
Insights into management challenges as well as its engineering feats include contributions from Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Shepard, and other astronauts; NASA administrator James E. Webb; Christopher C. Kraft, head of the Mission Control Center; and engineer Wernher von Braun. Their informative, exciting narratives explore the issues that set the United States on the path to the Moon, offer perspectives on the program's legacy, and examine the particulars of individual missions. Journalist Robert Sherrod chronicles the selection and training of astronauts. James Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13, recounts the damaged ship's dramatic return to Earth. Geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt discusses the lunar expeditions' rich harvest of scientific information. These and other captivating firsthand accounts form an ideal introduction to the historic U.S. space program as well as fascinating reading for all ages.
This new expanded edition includes a chronology of the Apollo project, additional photographs, and a new Foreword by historian Paul Dickson that offers a modern retrospective of the Moon landing, discussing its place in the world of space exploration and its impact on American history and culture. 
 

• Celebrating American space history! From its place in the world of space exploration to its impact on American history and culture, this book is an excellent way to celebrate America’s exploration successes!
• With a new Foreword by renowned historian Paul Dickson, this expanded edition offers a contemporary perspective of the Moon landing, its legacy in space exploration, and its impact on American culture.
• Take time to explore more than 160 dazzling color photographs and scores of black-and-white illustrations that are featured throughout. Dive into in-depth accounts of the challenges faced and accomplish by these remarkable participants.
• Written in direct, jargon-free language that anyone can understand lets readers appreciate anew even the most complex topics related to the Apollo missions. Read about the formidable engineering feats achieved by those who dared to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
• Hear from the astronauts themselves: Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Shepard, James Lovell, and others.
• An ideal introduction to the historic U.S. space program as well as fascinating reading for all ages.

Edgar M. Cortright, former Director at NASA's Langley Research Center, was cited by the National Academy of Engineering for his innovative leadership in aerospace research and development.
Paul Dickson is a Washington-based freelance writer who has addressed many topics, including space exploration, the vagaries of language, and the history of baseball.