What do you think?
Rate this book
How Apollo Flew to the Moon
Between 1968 and 1972, twenty four daring men journeyed from Earth to the Moon. This fascinating book traces what was a massive accomplishment right from the early launches through manned orbital spaceflights, detailing each step. Out of the battlefields of World War II came the gifted German engineers and designers who developed the V-2 rocket, which evolved into the powerful Saturn V booster that propelled men to the Moon. David Woods tells this exciting story, starting from America 's postwar astronautical research facilities. The techniques and procedures developed have been recognised as an example of human exploration at its greatest, demonstrating a peak of technological excellence.
440 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2007
78 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 31, 2012
You're likely reading this review because you're interested in the Apollo program...really interested. More interested than the average interested person. You've read the popular accounts. You know who the LMP was on Apollo 14. You know what a SLA panel is. Your friends are tired of hearing about your little tid bits of Apollo knowledge. You wish they shared your enthusiasm. More importantly, you wish there was more to read, more to know. I have good news for you: there is. Much more. David Woods' excellent "How Apollo Flew to the Moon" fills an important void in the Apollo canon in that it skips the personalities and the typical hagiography covered in copious detail elsewhere and goes straight to the mechanics of the machines that once carried humans to another world and back.
It all looks so simple on film from across the decades--you suit up, you get on top of a rocket, you fly your ship to the moon, fly down in a lander and hop back up. Simple. I'm being absurd here, of course, but this is how many people recall the Apollo landings, one of the single greatest technical and engineering feats in human history. If you're even remotely jaded about this accomplishment, Woods will remind you--in great detail--of just how awe inspiring the machines and their underlying technology were. He takes the reader on a methodical journey from the earliest moments of lift-off to the (surprisingly) complex sequence of events preceding splash down, breaking each into their constituent parts. Along the way, you will learn about telemetry, orbital mechanics, computer science and engineering. You will appreciate the technological wall that must be scaled in order to reach the moon and return...and you will marvel that it was ever accomplished at all.
What would I change about the book? Only one thing. The rather amateur cover. The newer edition has better cover art, but it's still a little lame. I know that authors have little if anything to say about the cover their publisher chooses to slap on their books but for those who do judge a book by its cover, I hope it gets better treatment in the future.
It all looks so simple on film from across the decades--you suit up, you get on top of a rocket, you fly your ship to the moon, fly down in a lander and hop back up. Simple. I'm being absurd here, of course, but this is how many people recall the Apollo landings, one of the single greatest technical and engineering feats in human history. If you're even remotely jaded about this accomplishment, Woods will remind you--in great detail--of just how awe inspiring the machines and their underlying technology were. He takes the reader on a methodical journey from the earliest moments of lift-off to the (surprisingly) complex sequence of events preceding splash down, breaking each into their constituent parts. Along the way, you will learn about telemetry, orbital mechanics, computer science and engineering. You will appreciate the technological wall that must be scaled in order to reach the moon and return...and you will marvel that it was ever accomplished at all.
What would I change about the book? Only one thing. The rather amateur cover. The newer edition has better cover art, but it's still a little lame. I know that authors have little if anything to say about the cover their publisher chooses to slap on their books but for those who do judge a book by its cover, I hope it gets better treatment in the future.
January 20, 2014
If you are interested in the Apollo program from an engineering standpoint, this book is for you. It is essentially a description of systems and operations for each step of the Apollo/Saturn stack.
Prior to reading this book I had read about the Saturn V in general, I knew about its propulsion system, the guidance, the gimbals, the fuel mix. But after reading this book, I was amazed by how much I did not know about it. The book goes through every detail of what happened to each stage, including things that went wrong and why. Things like how they made sure the fuel was kept "below" so bubbles wouldn't go into the turbopumps, etc.
It is a technical book but not overwhelming. The author goes to great lengths to explain things in layperson's terms.
If you are more interested in the Apollo/Saturn V than the average person, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Prior to reading this book I had read about the Saturn V in general, I knew about its propulsion system, the guidance, the gimbals, the fuel mix. But after reading this book, I was amazed by how much I did not know about it. The book goes through every detail of what happened to each stage, including things that went wrong and why. Things like how they made sure the fuel was kept "below" so bubbles wouldn't go into the turbopumps, etc.
It is a technical book but not overwhelming. The author goes to great lengths to explain things in layperson's terms.
If you are more interested in the Apollo/Saturn V than the average person, I cannot recommend this book enough.
July 5, 2014
Typical sentence in this book: 'Of course, Earth does have an atmosphere and any spacecraft on a trajectory with a 40-kilometer perigee is bound to plough into its gases where the immense kinetic energy will be dissipated as heat' (p. 467). This book inspires me to learn more about space/rocketry. The Apollo missions were absolutely amazing considering the technology they utilized. This book celebrates the engineers, mathematicians, and physicists who built the system just as much as it focuses on the astronauts who rode the Saturn V and the Saturn I into space. This book is pretty technical but is within reach of an enthusiast like me....the author acknowledges that it is his goal to not include even one formula & he succeeds.
August 14, 2015
This is an outstanding book describing and explaining the technology of the Apollo space program. I've read dozens and dozens of books on the Apollo-era manned space program (including Mercury and Gemini), and when I started reading this, I didn't really expect to learn much I hadn't already encountered. I was very wrong about that.
Mr. Woods provides an exacting level of detail, sure to make sure you learn something you didn't know. A representative example is his discussion of why Apollo 8 leapfrogged earth-orbital testing and went directly to the Moon in 1968. It's well known that the lunar module (LM) was not yet ready for manned spaceflight, and most texts say pretty much that. Here's Woods's statement (pp 36-37):
Apollo 8 had originally been planned as the D-mission, a test of the entire Apollo system including a lunar module in low Earth orbit, on the assumption that Apollo 7 would successfully carry out the C-mission. However, the first man-capable LM was not ready for flight owing to a litany of problems: stress fractures had appeared in some of its structural components; the type of wiring used on the intended spacecraft was prone to breakage; and the engine for the ascent stage was prone to combustion instability. Bereft of a LM, managers were unwilling to simply repeat Apollo 7, so they altered the mission sequence and brought the deep-space goals of the E-mission forward, but without a lander.
This is typical of the level of detail that Woods artfully supplies: instead of just saying the LM wasn't ready, he describes why: stress fractures, wiring breakage and ascent stage instability. This is the only book I've ever read that provided this level of detail, and it's worth noting that Woods does so without turning the passage into a drudgerous recitation of facts. This is typical of his approach throughout the book.
There's a lot I learned in this book, that I'd never encountered elsewhere. I never realized the Saturn stages had retro rockets and ullage rockets; the retros used on a dropped stage to pull it away from the still-moving rocket; and the ullage rockets (in the early Saturns) giving a light boost to settle the propellants in their tanks before igniting the upper stages; or that the stages were separated with explosive cord that actually cut through the metal, rather than explosive bolts as I'd always assumed. Also, the details of the Hohmann transfer orbit, a two-burn maneuver used to change from a lower orbit to a higher one; I'm pretty surprised I'd not encountered that one before.
And errors? I usually spot a small number of errors in just about every book of this nature, but not in this book. I thought I'd caught one: Woods refers to the VAB, the huge building in which the Saturn stages were vertically assembled, as the "Vehicle Assembly Building," and my understanding was that that name did not come about until the 1980s and the Shuttle program; during the Apollo program, I thought, it was called the "Vertical Assembly Building." But when I attempted to verify that, I found that that I was wrong: yes, it was indeed the Vertical Assembly Building when it was first built, but the rename to Vehicle Assembly Building occurred in 1965, well before the first Apollo flight; even then, NASA had its eyes on post-Apollo operations.
Woods is British (making his level of knowledge and detail about this US space program even more admirable), so it's a bit disconcerting to have British spelling used throughout, but one quickly adapts to that. The only area of improvement I would suggest deals in his use of the metric system. As he is British, use of metric is understandable, and he addresses this in the preface of the book. However, given that the text of the book is interspersed with references to 1960s NASA documents and quotes, all of which use the English system of feet, pounds, etc., it would have been nice to have also seen the English units added parenthetically.
But this is a quibble. The bottom line is that this is an extraordinary and excellent book for anyone interested in the details of the Apollo program, and I recommend it with no reservations whatsoever.
Mr. Woods provides an exacting level of detail, sure to make sure you learn something you didn't know. A representative example is his discussion of why Apollo 8 leapfrogged earth-orbital testing and went directly to the Moon in 1968. It's well known that the lunar module (LM) was not yet ready for manned spaceflight, and most texts say pretty much that. Here's Woods's statement (pp 36-37):
Apollo 8 had originally been planned as the D-mission, a test of the entire Apollo system including a lunar module in low Earth orbit, on the assumption that Apollo 7 would successfully carry out the C-mission. However, the first man-capable LM was not ready for flight owing to a litany of problems: stress fractures had appeared in some of its structural components; the type of wiring used on the intended spacecraft was prone to breakage; and the engine for the ascent stage was prone to combustion instability. Bereft of a LM, managers were unwilling to simply repeat Apollo 7, so they altered the mission sequence and brought the deep-space goals of the E-mission forward, but without a lander.
This is typical of the level of detail that Woods artfully supplies: instead of just saying the LM wasn't ready, he describes why: stress fractures, wiring breakage and ascent stage instability. This is the only book I've ever read that provided this level of detail, and it's worth noting that Woods does so without turning the passage into a drudgerous recitation of facts. This is typical of his approach throughout the book.
There's a lot I learned in this book, that I'd never encountered elsewhere. I never realized the Saturn stages had retro rockets and ullage rockets; the retros used on a dropped stage to pull it away from the still-moving rocket; and the ullage rockets (in the early Saturns) giving a light boost to settle the propellants in their tanks before igniting the upper stages; or that the stages were separated with explosive cord that actually cut through the metal, rather than explosive bolts as I'd always assumed. Also, the details of the Hohmann transfer orbit, a two-burn maneuver used to change from a lower orbit to a higher one; I'm pretty surprised I'd not encountered that one before.
And errors? I usually spot a small number of errors in just about every book of this nature, but not in this book. I thought I'd caught one: Woods refers to the VAB, the huge building in which the Saturn stages were vertically assembled, as the "Vehicle Assembly Building," and my understanding was that that name did not come about until the 1980s and the Shuttle program; during the Apollo program, I thought, it was called the "Vertical Assembly Building." But when I attempted to verify that, I found that that I was wrong: yes, it was indeed the Vertical Assembly Building when it was first built, but the rename to Vehicle Assembly Building occurred in 1965, well before the first Apollo flight; even then, NASA had its eyes on post-Apollo operations.
Woods is British (making his level of knowledge and detail about this US space program even more admirable), so it's a bit disconcerting to have British spelling used throughout, but one quickly adapts to that. The only area of improvement I would suggest deals in his use of the metric system. As he is British, use of metric is understandable, and he addresses this in the preface of the book. However, given that the text of the book is interspersed with references to 1960s NASA documents and quotes, all of which use the English system of feet, pounds, etc., it would have been nice to have also seen the English units added parenthetically.
But this is a quibble. The bottom line is that this is an extraordinary and excellent book for anyone interested in the details of the Apollo program, and I recommend it with no reservations whatsoever.
March 18, 2018
This is a spectacular book if you really want to know the details of the Apollo program. If you are not interested you may find it a little dry. My only criticism is that the book is so good I wish it was in hardcover, in a bigger format that would allow for some larger photographs and diagrams. The book would get a solid five stars in this case. As it is, this seems to be the definitive book on the technical and logistics aspects of this important and historic event.
One final note, I got the 2008 version… when I ordered the book their was already a 2011 update out that I somehow missed. I recently got the updated version - and it is even more complete (I now reviewed this under the new listing).
One final note, I got the 2008 version… when I ordered the book their was already a 2011 update out that I somehow missed. I recently got the updated version - and it is even more complete (I now reviewed this under the new listing).
July 8, 2020
I bought it as a reference to poke through, but I ended up reading it cover-to-cover. Learn about Apollo issues like the necessity of ullage thrusters in 0g (to force the contents of partially-full tanks to the desired side).
Fun fact: One of the onboard sighting systems had a "unity-power telescope". That's a 1x zoom, like holding a paper towel tube to your eye.
Fun fact: One of the onboard sighting systems had a "unity-power telescope". That's a 1x zoom, like holding a paper towel tube to your eye.
October 31, 2018
Inspiring and incredibly interesting.
July 20, 2025
Four decades have not dampened the romance of Man's mission to the Moon. This book is a proof.
The story is a fascinating one. And it is told in a fascinating manner. The author has cleverly interwoven a wealth of technical information with interestingly written historical events and anecdotes that keep both a layman and a reader who is more familiar with space technology riveted. While lavishly praising NASA's glorious achievements, the book does not shy away from recording the failures or even what could be described as minor shortcomings of the program. It is this objectivity that endears the author to even the most skeptical reader.
Use of a 0.08 MIP, 64 Kbytes computer, transmission of procedures, instructions, and even data through voice communication, and even a back-up lunar module navigation using paper-charts! As the author asks, how can you go to the Moon with just that? But they did it! At the same time, it is a revelation to know that many technologies and especially mission operation techniques owe their origin to this pioneering program.
The author echoes my feelings in the Epilogue,
"I rejoice that I grew to see a new form of bravery in the men who rode the rockets. This kind of heroism did not require a person to engage in the slaughter of fellow men and women for the sake of an ideal, but instead it required trust in the brilliance, hard work and imagination of hundreds of thousands of people who placed you at the top of a fantastic machine that could easily kill you, but on most occasions, did not. Rather, it took you on a voyage of momentous discovery."
Amen!
The story is a fascinating one. And it is told in a fascinating manner. The author has cleverly interwoven a wealth of technical information with interestingly written historical events and anecdotes that keep both a layman and a reader who is more familiar with space technology riveted. While lavishly praising NASA's glorious achievements, the book does not shy away from recording the failures or even what could be described as minor shortcomings of the program. It is this objectivity that endears the author to even the most skeptical reader.
Use of a 0.08 MIP, 64 Kbytes computer, transmission of procedures, instructions, and even data through voice communication, and even a back-up lunar module navigation using paper-charts! As the author asks, how can you go to the Moon with just that? But they did it! At the same time, it is a revelation to know that many technologies and especially mission operation techniques owe their origin to this pioneering program.
The author echoes my feelings in the Epilogue,
"I rejoice that I grew to see a new form of bravery in the men who rode the rockets. This kind of heroism did not require a person to engage in the slaughter of fellow men and women for the sake of an ideal, but instead it required trust in the brilliance, hard work and imagination of hundreds of thousands of people who placed you at the top of a fantastic machine that could easily kill you, but on most occasions, did not. Rather, it took you on a voyage of momentous discovery."
Amen!
January 13, 2014
If you are a space buff this is the book for you. Like an episode of "How it's Made," this book confines itself to providing a technical, but not overly complicated explanation of how Apollo got to the moon and back. Distilling the thousands of moving parts that comprised the Apollo program into a very well written one volume description, the author takes such concepts as gravity, orbital dynamics, weightlessness, and computer theory, and explains them as they applied to Apollo in a way even the non-scientifically inclined can get their brains around.
Really enjoyable!
Really enjoyable!
October 24, 2015
This book is a treasure trove of technical details on the Apollo moon flights. It starts with a brief history of the Apollo program and then gives a detailed mission profile amalgamated from all of the flights. From orbital insertion burns, to EVA, to reentry, the book covers everything in enough detail to satisfy the most demanding Apollo nerd. The author also highlight differences between the missions as the technology evolved and gives plenty of quotes from the astronauts to illustrate how exhausting the missions were for the men involved. Highly recommended.
May 1, 2016
The definitive book on the moon program. Even better than the original- more and larger pictures and slightly expanded text in most chapters. In the end, over 120 pages of additional pictures and text. Two greatly expanded chapter, "Down in the Dust", and "Exploration at its Greatest" replace the chapter "Orbital Sojourn" in the original. Eliminates the center color section and puts color pictures throughout the text.
Only negative in that like the original it is a Softcover and like the original it has a somewhat goofy cover.
Only negative in that like the original it is a Softcover and like the original it has a somewhat goofy cover.
September 22, 2016
Fascinating and very thorough account of the Apollo missions to the moon, covering everything from the building of the various rockets/modules, preparation, launch, orbit, landing, scientific activity on the lunar surface, re-acquisition of the lunar module, return to earth, re-entry into the atmosphere, retrieval in the ocean and dozens of other minor tasks and procedures. Most of the book was over my head quite frankly but it was still amazing to try to absorb how many brave and intelligent people it took to pull this off.
December 5, 2013
For space geeks who like to know all the technical details of precisely how the Apollo program managed to land 2 men on the moon and return them to the earth using a single booster, this is the one! I've read it twice and I could (and will) read it again and pick up new information each time.
March 24, 2016
Very good description in details of the Apollo program. The author tells step by step how a mission works, from the preparations to launch to the splashdown. The book also features nice photographs and astronauts quotes, that helps the reader to feel the ambience of moon missions.
September 5, 2017
Great book. An extraordinary source of information for anyone interested in the technical generalities of NASA's greatest achievement. Easy to read and very insightful, it's a must read for the space aficionado and the public in general.
September 17, 2017
This is an outstanding book on the technical aspects on the Apollo missions to the moon, but it's written so clearly that a layperson can grasp it. This is one of the best books on the Apollo program - a must-read for anyone interested in those missions.
July 11, 2010
A must read for anyone seriously interested in the history of Apollo.
March 17, 2011
Do not judge this book by its unfortunate cover! By far the best narrative about the engineering side of the Space Race, and Woods' passion for the subject is evident on every page.
July 16, 2016
One of the best technical "how-did-they?" Books on the Apollo Program.
July 5, 2015
Rich in technical detail yet quite readable, "How Apollo Flew to the Moon" is an essential part of any space nerd's library.
November 30, 2017
This was by far one of the coolest books I have ever read!
May 13, 2022
This book is seriously dense. When it says "How", it really means it, in an unbelievably meticulous way.
I'm an extremely curious person and have been interested in space and astronomy for a long time, but nonetheless, while I found most of the detail interesting, I found some sections a bit of a struggle to engage with. The result was, I felt some parts of the book were a chore to get through. So if I were rating for personal enjoyment, I would probably give it four stars. I see the vast majority rated it five and seem to be craving the amount of detail it provides—I find myself really jealous I don't have the same attention span!
However, if I take a step back and consider it more objectively, I think it's great that someone has taken the time to research and present all the detail here. From that perspective, it would be really unfair to give this book anything other than five. In the epilogue, the author alludes to the fact that the Moon landing may be the most important event in the history of mankind, not just to the present, but perhaps for all time. Thus, his book is an extremely important historical document that should be useful for hundreds, or even possibly thousands of years in the future.
I'm an extremely curious person and have been interested in space and astronomy for a long time, but nonetheless, while I found most of the detail interesting, I found some sections a bit of a struggle to engage with. The result was, I felt some parts of the book were a chore to get through. So if I were rating for personal enjoyment, I would probably give it four stars. I see the vast majority rated it five and seem to be craving the amount of detail it provides—I find myself really jealous I don't have the same attention span!
However, if I take a step back and consider it more objectively, I think it's great that someone has taken the time to research and present all the detail here. From that perspective, it would be really unfair to give this book anything other than five. In the epilogue, the author alludes to the fact that the Moon landing may be the most important event in the history of mankind, not just to the present, but perhaps for all time. Thus, his book is an extremely important historical document that should be useful for hundreds, or even possibly thousands of years in the future.
August 4, 2019
Short review:
A highly detailed look at the progress of all the Apollo missions to the moon, overlaid as if one large composite mission. This book describes all the events in great and satisfying detail.
The strongest impression I got from it is that space travel in TV and movies is but a fantasy. Three men cannot go to the Moon and come back as if driving to the local mall. The spaceship can’t even go by itself; it sends telemetry to the ground and receives guidance back. No, it takes careful planning, budgeting resources, hundreds of people on the ground with more computer resources than the spaceship can carry precisely calculating complicated trajectories. And the whole program is backed up by the hundreds of thousands who helped design and build the spacecraft, did all the science and engineering work to make it happen.
Miss one step, have one accident, get the trajectory off by a few degrees, and the mission is fatal.
Incredibly, after the tragedy of Apollo One, the program had not one single further fatality. Even more, the program learned from its errors.
If you want to know what a monumental achievement it was to land on the moon six times, read this book.
A highly detailed look at the progress of all the Apollo missions to the moon, overlaid as if one large composite mission. This book describes all the events in great and satisfying detail.
The strongest impression I got from it is that space travel in TV and movies is but a fantasy. Three men cannot go to the Moon and come back as if driving to the local mall. The spaceship can’t even go by itself; it sends telemetry to the ground and receives guidance back. No, it takes careful planning, budgeting resources, hundreds of people on the ground with more computer resources than the spaceship can carry precisely calculating complicated trajectories. And the whole program is backed up by the hundreds of thousands who helped design and build the spacecraft, did all the science and engineering work to make it happen.
Miss one step, have one accident, get the trajectory off by a few degrees, and the mission is fatal.
Incredibly, after the tragedy of Apollo One, the program had not one single further fatality. Even more, the program learned from its errors.
If you want to know what a monumental achievement it was to land on the moon six times, read this book.
March 11, 2023
How Apollo Flew to the Moon by W. David Woods is, without question, the best description of the technology that took Apollo to the moon. On top of that, Woods is a fine writer. His prose is excellent, perfectly balanced between technical writing and a conversational style. The amount of material that Woods had to master in order to write this book is almost beyond comprehension. And that level of detail also conveys an appreciation in some measure for the level of detail that the astronauts themselves had to master. I’ve read dozens of books about the Apollo program and How Apollo Flew to the Moon puts the finishing touch on a complete understanding of the program. In my opinion, Woods’ book makes a perfect set along with Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft by Brooks, Grimwood, & Swenson; The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation by O’Brien; Sunburst and Luminary: An Apollo Memoir by Eyles; and Moon Lander: How We Developed the Apollo Lunar Module by Kelly. How Apollo Flew to the Moon is a must-read for anyone with a serious interest in NASA’s first journey to the moon.
February 28, 2024
One of the best books I have ever read.
It includes a lot of technical detail, especially about the operations - like how did they navigate? How did they do the lunar rendezvous? Why did they even choose to go the lunar rendezvous route rather than launching and landing with a single craft?
But it also includes a lot about the experiences of the crews themselves, often in their own words from the recordings. You get a real sense for the personalities and humour they had and their dedication to the job.
In the end, you gain a profound appreciation for the difficulty and complexity of the Apollo programme and the grit and perseverance of the men who went to the Moon and the engineers who got them there.
It includes a lot of technical detail, especially about the operations - like how did they navigate? How did they do the lunar rendezvous? Why did they even choose to go the lunar rendezvous route rather than launching and landing with a single craft?
But it also includes a lot about the experiences of the crews themselves, often in their own words from the recordings. You get a real sense for the personalities and humour they had and their dedication to the job.
In the end, you gain a profound appreciation for the difficulty and complexity of the Apollo programme and the grit and perseverance of the men who went to the Moon and the engineers who got them there.
May 1, 2019
A technical overview of the Apollo program, from hardware to missions, set at a level suitable for the interested layman. The author wisely starts discussions from first principles, from a basic explanation of orbits to the intricacies of stellar navigation.
The book is extremely well researched and clearly written. Mr. Wood has sprinkled the text with actual radio chatter and interviews with the protagonists. This elevates the chapters from a dry, textbook style discussion into something far more real.
A must read for any space program enthusiast.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/2019/04/...
The book is extremely well researched and clearly written. Mr. Wood has sprinkled the text with actual radio chatter and interviews with the protagonists. This elevates the chapters from a dry, textbook style discussion into something far more real.
A must read for any space program enthusiast.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/2019/04/...
May 1, 2021
This is an older book that was recently gifted to me. Unlike the personal stories of the astronauts, this is the technical story of the spacecraft and the mission. It is one of the best books on the Apollo program I have read. It explains the technical details in a way this layman could understand. Although it is very detailed, it didn’t become tedious and boring. A great glossary is included but I found I didn’t need it most of the time because the information was contained in the narrative. I recommend this book to anyone interested in space flight an in the Apollo program in particular.
November 3, 2023
The technology of the Apollo program was bleeding edge for its time and is impressive today for what it accomplished. Everything was created from scratch in only a few short years. This book explains it all in detail with examples of how everything was used in real life on missions, sometimes in ways the designers did not envision. One of the very best books I've read. If you are interested in aerospace tech or space exploration history, this work is a must-read. A very fun read... don't let its 500 page length intimidate you.
April 19, 2026
2 stars. DNF.
There are aspects, some technical, that a medium of a book simply can't cover adequately. Thus, the author's intention of precisely that, falls short. It sure has interesting parts, not just because I want to be an engineer, but when I fell asleep for like the 10th time, I gave up after reaching Part 3.
Quote:
Words learned: frisson, lather, ullage.
There are aspects, some technical, that a medium of a book simply can't cover adequately. Thus, the author's intention of precisely that, falls short. It sure has interesting parts, not just because I want to be an engineer, but when I fell asleep for like the 10th time, I gave up after reaching Part 3.
Quote:
With time, the rotation axis itself began to rotate, making the spacecraft's long axis sweep out a cone with an ever-increasing angle - a motion appropriately known as coning.
Words learned: frisson, lather, ullage.
January 4, 2020
In one way, thanks to the ingenuity and intelligence of the thousands of people involved (and the bare-naked bravery of those at the pointy end), this explains exactly how the Apollo missions achieved what they did. And yet, given the technology employed at the time and the pressure placed on the programme by JFK, it’s an absolute miracle what was achieved in such a (relatively) short span of time, and with such repeated mission success. Truly awe-inspiring stuff, indeed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews