Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon

by Al Worden, Francis French, Dick Gordon (Foreword)

As command module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission to the moon in 1971, Al Worden flew on what is widely regarded as the greatest exploration mission that humans have ever attempted. He spent six days orbiting the moon, including three days completely alone, the most isolated human in existence. During the return from the moon to earth he also conducted the first spacewalk in deep space, becoming the first human ever to see both the entire earth and moon simply by turning his head. The Apollo 15 flight capped an already-impressive career as an astronaut, including important work on the pioneering Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 missions, as well as the perilous flight of Apollo 13.

Nine months after his return from the moon, Worden received a phone call telling him he was fired and ordering him out of his office by the end of the week. He refused to leave.

What happened in those nine months, from being honored with parades and meetings with world leaders to being unceremoniously fired, has been a source of much speculation for four decades. Worden has never before told the full story around the dramatic events that shook NASA and ended his spaceflight career. Readers will learn them here for the first time, along with the exhilarating account of what it is like to journey to the moon and back. It's an unprecedentedly candid account of what it was like to be an Apollo astronaut, with all its glory but also its pitfalls.

Genres: Space, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Science, Memoir, Autobiography

312 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2011

Reviews

[Puppy_reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al Worden (February 7th, 1932- March 18th, 2020) was an American Astronaut, test pilot and engineer who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar edition. He was born just outside of Jackson, Michigan. He went to the U.S Military Academy West Point and studied aeronautical engineering. He was an Air Force pilot until 1966, when he joined the space program. He went to the moon in 1971 and orbited it while Scott and Irwin went to the moon surface. When they returned to earth the crew got in trouble over a controversy over some postal covers they took to the moon. Worden was originally sacked but in the end was allowed to work at NASA till 1975. Although he was not considered an astronaut and was never allowed to fly again. After he retired, he made many public appearances and promoted the space program. He died in 2020.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Although I found it personally lacking in detail at times for example there was not much detail on the space flight, it served its purpose well. Although I would not go out of my way to read a similar book it was still interesting and informative. I would recommend for anyone who like me is a bit of a ‘space nerd’ and someone who finds Apollo interesting.

I personally had not read huge amounts about Apollo before and found the inner workings of NASA (during those times) fascinating. Other space biographies I have read have not given much of an inside perspective into NASA, so this is something that makes this book stand out. The informal nature of NASA was not something I expected especially due to it being government funded. This relaxed nature relied strongly on trust- something that is surprising due to billions of dollars they were working with. I also appreciate this relaxed nature is no more, so if you want to find out about it, I would suggest reading this book.

However, this book just doesn’t feel complete, this is partly due to only sixteen pages being given to Al’s childhood. I appreciate that the book is predominantly about his time as an astronaut, but I would have still liked some more context on his childhood. Although I must give it to him that at least he didn’t stretch it to far like many biographies do. I also really missed technical details of the rocket. As a space nerd I will milk at any details and context I can get but in this occasion it felt lacking. Albeit that the last space related book I read (The Apollo Murders) was packed to the brim in details as I discuss in my review of that book.

I felt Al talked about the cover controversy well. I felt he gave as honest and unbiased an opinion as possible and laid out all the facts well - although I would have enjoyed some more details about his emotions during this time. You can see the pain he went through suing NASA but also the healing it gave him. I found as I read the book my sympathy for him escalated. I understand why NASA made the decisions they did on the matter, but still feel angry at them on his behalf. I also acknowledge he did make mistakes, but I find it so frustrating that his commander (David Scott) put the blame on him. I have a lot of respect in how Al managed the situation and although I understand he is giving a warped perspective I don’t feel he was in the wrong. Although Scott secured the detail Al took full responsibility for it. This alludes to the insight crew have for their commander again something I have not seen before. I have never researched or read much about the military, so I found this book very insightful into that aspect of things.

Overall, I found this book remarkably interesting and though provoking. Although it is by no means my favourite book ever it certainly preforms its role. The more I think about it the more I begin to like it. I would recommend for any space nerd or anyone who would like background into the NASA Apollo era. I also would recommend for anyone who is interested in the postal cover scandal. 4/5

[Cole Christians · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I never bothered to ask my grandpa about stories of his past because I never knew him as “Apollo 15 astronaut,” he was just “grandpa.” Thankfully, I have the privilege to read the stories that he didn’t have the time to share. His words sparked warm memories, contemplations, and many tears. More than that, I learned how he came to be one of the best pilots in the world and a real badass. I’m grateful that I can cherish him forever in this way.

[Ruth Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read about his experiences as an Air Force fighter jet pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. I think the postal cover scandal he got caught in was way overblown. He eventually left NASA and retired from the Air Force moving to Florida. Al Worden grew up in the Jackson, Michigan area where I lived as a child. He was a 2nd cousin to my dad. So Worden's life has a personal connection.

[Gary Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al Worden has some things to get off of his chest. And he's been waiting almost 40 years to talk about them. All that plus rockets, spaceflight, and a real behind-the-scenes account of one Apollo astronaut's experience is what you'll get in the delightful "Falling to Earth."

Worden, though not a household name to most Americans, is well known to Apollo buffs the world over as the command module pilot of Apollo 15. Though not one of the twelve humans to walk upon the moon, he has the even rarer distinction of being one of only seven human to orbit the moon solo.

A flood of Apollo books started appearing in the late 1980s, with a wide range of quality and authenticity. On the low end of the scale we have the flimsy, ghost-written "Moonshot" ostensibly related by Alan Shepard to the outstanding "Carrying the Fire" by Michael Collins, long regarded as the pinnacle of the genre. I'm happy to report that "Falling to Earth" is on the high end of this scale.

Worden's account succeeds for one simple reason: his story rings true. You get the feeling that this is a man who's not a trained author, but someone who has poured his heart into writing a direct, vivid and honest account of his life's achievements. He comes across as humble and friendly. I had the feeling that I was having a friendly chat with him in my living room. No pretense, no "right stuff" machismo, just a lot of "this is what happened and I'm proud to say that I was there to be part of it."

Other astronaut bio's have removed the sheen of perfection from the 1960s NASA PR machine, so there's no fresh ground broken there, but...Worden does make some very direct statements about his past colleagues that may surprise some. As you might expect from other tellings, neither Alan Shepard or Chris Kraft come off as likeable guys. Shepard's too full of himself and Kraft's just a cranky bastard. There's also no love lost for Dave Scott. Worden makes clear that he has enormous respect for him as a pilot and astronaut, but they're not buddies by any stretch.

Besides a terrific blow-by-blow account of the Apollo 15 mission, a main theme of this book is the postal cover controversy which engulfed the crew following their return to Earth. This controversy is fairly well known, but it's never been covered in such detail by any of the crew. I had no idea how nasty the whole thing became. Far beyond being a simple PR embarrassment, it summarily ended all of their careers as astronauts. They went from being national heroes to disgraced pariahs with head-snapping speed...all over an error in ethical judgement that in retrospect looks laughably trivial. Most surprisingly, Dave Scott, often portrayed as the most Boy Scout-ish of the astronauts doesn't come out looking so good. By Worden's account, Scott abdicated his leadership role by not coming forward as the initiator of the postal cover deal. If completely accurate, this makes Scott look rather bad indeed. Don't get the wrong idea; this is not a tell-all book used to settle scores, but it does a lot to explain some areas of political intrigue that have been inadequately explored until now.

"Falling to Earth" is successful on multiple fronts. It will be just as interesting to the casual reader as it is to those well versed in Apollo history. There's something for everybody. Al Worden has penned a fine edition to the Apollo canon.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 2 out of 5]

He mentioned that he felt that he wasn't good enough or smart enough to get anywhere in college, West Point, or the space program. He also stated that was a simple farm boy. I'd have to agree, due to his lack of writing skills. After all, he did get into West Point by the strap of his overalls. He cashed in favors to be admitted. If he wasn't likable, he never would have been attending such a prestigious academy.

Illegally smuggling in postal covers in his space suit proves it. That was not the most intelligent thing that any man could do. There were rules set by the program and he and others in his crew broke them. Both people in the military and people in the public eye need to have high standards and need to adhere to them. They needed to set a good example and they failed in that respect.

[Jackie]

Is it possible to review a book without choosing a certain number of stars? because I don't know how to rate this one. I almost gave up reading after not being able to "get into it" but I kept skimming until he became an astronaut and then at some point it grabbed me. worth reading just for his description of going to the moon.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read, straightforward story of a humble and highly skilled astronaut and aviator. I love the stories of Apollo and the men who crewed those epic journeys. I am likewise exasperated and bored with the pathetic, self-important conspiracy theorists who deny they ever took place (which, I am pleased to say, are not even given a mention here).

Apollo 15 was tremendously successful as a mission, although it was subsequently tainted by the admission that the crew took quite a large number of first day covers with them that they supposedly intended to sell. This was clearly a lapse in judgement although not illegal and something to which NASA appeared to grossly overreact, firing Worden for his part in the affair. He is very accepting of the situation and admits to misjudgment, but it clearly burns within him and for good reason. I side with him on this, andpointing out of the fact that NASA itself did the same thing on the Shuttle which displays a certain amount of hypocrisy.

It is, no doubt, sad that his career ended this way although he seems back in favor now. I would love to get the chance to hear him speak as one of the ex-astronauts made available at Kennedy Space Center but I haven't been lucky in my several trips there over the years. I like the style of the book which is a straightforward, first person narrative covering the mission in detail but more of an autobio for most of the narrative. Worden seems a down to earth and likable guy and this comes across in his authorship.

To be honest I preferred the more detailed accounts of Collins and Cernan and the in depth bio of Armstrong but this is nevertheless a good addition (and needed) to the Apollo astronaut literature. AW is right: before we know it there won't be any left who walked on (or orbited) the Moon and we need to remember them as inspirations in these dark, earthbound days.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a fair number of astronaut books, and they’re all pretty good. Why? Because they’re written by astronauts, and astronauts get to write about GOING INTO SPACE, which just about everyone agrees is extremely cool. But Falling to Earth, by Al Worden and Francis French, is a bit different, and maybe a bit better, than the average astronaut bio, because Al Worden’s trip to the heavens is not really the most important part of the story. What’s really interesting is what happened AFTER he went into space. Worden and his fellow Apollo 15 astronauts, Dave Scott and Jim Irwin, became celebrities for their trip to the moon and back. This was great: Astronauting 101. But a funny thing happened on the way to the boardroom. Worden, Scott, and Irwin were subsequently implicated in a “scandal” that seems tame today but that was major news at the time—one in which they were accused of bringing postal covers with them into space and then selling the covers for personal profit. I won’t go into the details of the story, which are covered in the book, but suffice it to say Worden became something of a pariah at NASA for many years. The tale of how he redeemed himself and revived his Apollo legacy is really the heart of this story, and makes for the most compelling section of the book. Well written, with lots of inside-NASA information for space nuts, Falling to Earth is a fun, ultimately uplifting read about a man whom government bureaucrats tried for several years to make us forget. There’s no chance of that now. The authors have gently but convincingly reclaimed Al Worden’s important place in space history.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this insider account of being a NASA astronaut interesting. Particularly, the author's journey from air force pilot to astronaut and his vivid account of his mission on Apollo 15 were compelling to read. The image of astronauts floating around weightless and pantless, with poo bags stuck to their butts might stay with me for a few days. Al Worden did come off as a bit smarmy. He seemed to me like that kind of swinger 70's guy who picked up the ladies with his corvette and brought them home to his shag carpeted house and drank martinis by the pool. I also think his explanation for selling envelopes he brought into space with him was a bit thin. His excuse was everyone else did it too. All in all an interesting read.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al gave a talk about his book along with his coauthor. He was very funny and charismatic. When I bought the book from him he told me a few stories from the book. The way he described one event had me and everyone around me laughing. I had high expectations that his book would be just as good as his verbal story telling. It was. He's truly an incredible person both for his accomplishments as an Apollo astronaut and has a regular guy, cracking jokes and having a positive impact on others lives. Not many people know the story of Apollo 15 but it was the first major science mission to the moon and it should not be forgotten. Any asterisk that has come up after the Apollo 15 flight should be the only thing forgotten about that mission.

[Julian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Big grudge to settle and whines alot.

The author may or may not have been treated unfairly by NASA. I don’t give a hoot. He spends way way too much page space trying to settle old scores with NASA and prove that his peers still like him. This book may have been good therapy for him, but he should pay ME for that. Waste of money. Should have never been published.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/falling-to-earth-an-apollo-15-astronauts-journey-to-the-moon-by-al-worden/

Another of the astronaut autobiographies which I saw recommended in this blog post in 2020 (via File 770). I enjoyed Michael Collins’ Carrying the Fire so much that I made it my book of 2021. Like Collins, Worden got to circle the Moon while his colleagues went and landed on it; unlike Collins, his career had a hard crash immediately afterwards, as a result of a scandal involving the sale for profit of commemorative stamps that the astronauts had brought to the lunar surface and back. Worden stayed loyal to his commander, David Scott, when the whole story broke, but nearing the end of his life clearly felt that he needed to tell his side and clarify Scott’s overall responsibility. (He died at 88 in March 2020; Scott, now 91, is the last remaining Apollo commander.)

On the technological side, Worden’s account tallies with Collins, though it’s less funny; it’s rather delightful though to read of him developing a passion for lunar geology, and manically photographing every possible inch of the moon’s surface while in orbit. Worden’s personal life was more complex, as he and his first wife divorced while he was undergoing his astronaut training, and one also senses that he was politically less astute than Collins – he notes of a dinner that the Apollo 15 team had with President Nixon and Vice-President Agnew that all five of them underwent public disgrace soon afterwards, but there is not much introspection as to how this happened.

The part of the story I found most shocking in fact was the serious health issue endured by the third man on the mission, James Irwin, whose heart underwent serious stress in the final stages of the lunar excursion. Irwin had a heart attack less than two years after their mission, aged only 43, and was the first of the twelve who walked on the moon to die, aged 61 in 1991. NASA failed to communicate Irwin’s health situation clearly to the three astronauts, and Scott, decided that they should keep working, an error as it turned out, but based on incomplete information. Both the stamps scandal and Irwin’s overwork were mistaken decisions made by Scott, but in a framework established by NASA that made these mistakes very easy to make.

(Irwin became an evangelical Christian after he returned from the moon and went on expeditions to find Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, asserting that the Book of Genesis was literally true. His grandparents were from Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, and he described himself as the first Irishman on the Moon.)

Space is exciting stuff and although I think Michael Collins’s book is superior, this is still an entertaining read.

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent astronaut autobiography on multiple levels. On the one hand, it’s very frank: Al Worden is honest about his own shortcomings - such as with his family life - and has quite a few stories about the poor behaviour of people he worked with, though without naming and shaming. He goes into detail about the Apollo 15 postal cover scandal, and his anger and bitterness - at himself and others - about the whole thing are very clear. On the other hand, the parts of the book regarding space flight are more positive and beautifully delivered. I enjoyed the little details that Worden provides about Apollo 15 itself and the preparation for it - his background as an engineer certainly comes across in his style here - as well as his personal thoughts during the flight. He makes the job of a command module pilot, the Apollo crew member who didn’t get to walk on the Moon, sound much more appealing than it does at first glance.

[Lee W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and easy to read book that I found hard to put down.

Al Worden tells his side of the infamous "postal covers" scandal, and it's very easy to believe that he is genuinely being open, candid and honest about the whole affair. If so, then that doesn't paint NASA as an organisation, and certain individuals, in a very good light at all.

Although, that part of his story obviously figures prominently in the narrative, by far the most interesting aspect of the book is the detail with which the author recounts the preparation for the Apollo 15 mission and the mission itself, which was an absolute triumph for scientific endeavour and exploration (no pun intended, as "Endeavour" was the name of the CSM).

I've read quite a lot of these accounts of the Moon landings and other 1960's/70's space exploits, and this is certainly one of the best ones.

[Kacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to hear All Worden speak at Kennedy Space Center a few years ago, and wanted to hear more about the Apollo 15 mission. This book shares Worden's early life and career (these chapters could have been tightened) and of most interest to me, their preparation and mission to the moon.

The controversy surrounding the postal cover is understandable. NASA wanted to make an example out of them. If Worden's view is accurate, Dave Scott's actions were disappointing. Their punishment did not fit their crime, imo. I'm glad Worden has told his story and had some healing.

Would be interested in reading more astronaut autobiographies.

[Brian Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true "can't-put-down" book, Al Worden and Francis French tell a gripping story of an astronaut's journey; from his humble farm-boy beginnings to his intense military career, his triumphs as an astronaut and his soul-searching fall from grace... and his own eventual personal redemption.

I've read many a wonderful astronaut biography, but Worden and French's tome beats them all... it's almost like Al is telling you his story face-to-face over a few drinks!

[Justin Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always up for a first person account of a voyage to the moon. Al Worden's first and only trip to space was as the CMP for Apollo 15. He retells here his disciplined life of hard work, study, and teamwork. He also explains and in my eyes, exhonerates himself and his crew concerning the 'covers' scandal.

[Joan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! So interesting - to read about the experiences of someone who flew to the moon is fascinating. So much work and intelligence is involved - I am in awe. Not only that, but to get to understand what happened to Al Worden and all he had to endure was heartbreaking.

[Tony Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read.

[Brian Laslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the finest memoirs of the Apollo Program from one of its (unfortunately) lesser known astronauts.

[David Pomper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read for any space nerd or history buff.

[John Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read---lot of details about the flight which I found extremely interesting.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost as good as Michael Collins’ “Carrying the Fire”. It’s hard to believe his career was so diminished by stamp covers, a big deal over nothing. Good book which I enjoyed.

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the better Apollo astronaut memoirs (and I've read most of them). It seemed he was quite honest about the souvenir scandal that happened after Apollo 15.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling To Earth was a riveting read! Being a fan of space flight, it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. Wow.

[Stan van Bragt · Rating 4 out of 5]

prima boek

Een goed en eerlijk verhaal over de achtergrond en reis naar de maan . Zeer lezenswaardig en stof tot nadenken

[Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the part of the moon flight, but the rest was just OK,

[Melissa Finney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

I really liked this book. I wish I could have met Al Worden. His life was so interesting. It makes me look at the moon differently.

[maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book that i had to read for class was great i fear.

[Sergey Selyutin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better Apollo astronaut memoirs.