Moon Hunters: NASA's Remarkable Expeditions to the Ends of the Solar Systems

by Jeffrey Kluger

A look at the scientists who design and fly the spacecraft exploring the outer reaches of the solar system discusses unmanned missions to Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune.

Genres: Science, Space, Nonfiction, History, Astronomy

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 1999

About the author

Jeffrey Kluger is Editor at Large at Time, where he has written more than 45 cover stories. Coauthor of Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was the basis for the movie Apollo 13, he is also the author of 13 other books including his latest book Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story.

Reviews

[Com]

One of my all time favourite non-fiction books. Inspires a sense of wonder at the beauty and mystery of those celestial spheres beyond Earth.

So long as books like this remain unread, fiction books will take second priority in my life; why invent universes of the imagination when we live in one as profound as our own! Volcanoes on distant moons erupting with glistening snow; vast oceans covered in ice, whose contents we can only speculate; rivers flowing with boiling ammonia! It's all real, and this book brings it all to life. Splendidly illustrated and passionately written, this book takes the reader on an adventure through our solar system -- sit back and enjoy the ride!

[Jennifer]

I loved it. It inspired my grade 8 science fair project and I won the public vote at the regional science fair. It really inspired me as a kid and it's just one of those unforgettable works.

[Xavier DaRosa]

A really good history of the JPL's trials and tribulations of travels across space toward moons of each of the planets in our solar system. This book is narrated very well! Felt like I was watching a documentary in my head.

[Jack]

Fun, quick read about NASA's deep-space explorations.

[Stephen Hampshire]

Excellent book about the unsung heroes of the JPL.

[RUSA CODES]

This was one of the 2000 RUSA Notable Books winners. For the complete list, go to http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/aw...

[Pippa]

A fascinating, inspiring book.

[Pippa]

Very well written. An inspiring book. I loved it.

[Grace]

Moon hunters was an excellent story for the aspiring astronomer and explorer that is hidden in each one of us. For me, this book really unlocked my curiosity surrounding the mysteries of the moons in our solar system. Planets are something that everyone knows and associates with space and the black abyss beyond our home planet. But, it is not often that an author or scholar gives much thought to moons which can hold just as many secrets to our beginnings as planets can. I think that the author did a great job sparking an interest in moon science for me. It makes me want to understand what type of role these smaller bodies play in the construction and continuation of our ever expanding universe. They are often overlooked but I feel like moons can help us solve some of the biggest mysteries about where we came from. Because, if you think about it, we are made of the same star stuff that they are made of. The parts of this book that left me awestruck were the unique ways that the engineers used problem solving methods to change the course of missions from failures to successes. It is incredible that scientists from Earth can learn so much about a planet that is still so far away from the spaceships and probes that they sent to distant planets. I am sure that someday in the not too distant future; people will actually be able to go to all of these planets and experience their uniqueness in its full glory. I can even imagine a time when space cruises and space tourism will become a reality. I feel like there will be a time when humanity reaches its precipice because it will make us see and believe that each one of us are part of something bigger than ourselves. I want to say a huge thank you to the author for writing this book. At the time that this is written, I am a first year engineering student and I hope to go into the space exploration field one day. This book really gave me perspective and gave me an extra reminder that all of the work I do now can have a vast impact on humanity's future. And, I was super excited when I saw how some of my current university studies applied to the mission triumphs and failures described in this book. I want to thank the author once again for putting this book out into the world and sharing the magic of the universe with such a large audience. Our mission to explore this solar system and beyond is an important one and I feel like this book can inspire many to become a space explorer.

[Bob]

The story of the JPL, from its earliest beginnings. There were a lot of failures with the first attempts to get onto the moon's surface. The JPL's motto was to keep on trying, and trying, and trying until it finally went right. Glad they had this attitude ... would have been far easier to stop.