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Exploring the Moon: The Apollo Expeditions
If you have ever asked yourself What did the astronauts do on the lunar surface? What did they say while they were there? What did they photograph? How did their discoveries alter our understanding of lunar geology? Will we ever go back to the moon? If so, Exploring the Moon is the book for you. This unique insight into the three Apollo missions (15, 16 and 17) answers all these questions and much more. Using the actual transcripts of what the astronauts said to each other whilst carrying out their duties, and numerous photographs taken at each step of the exploration, this book provides a graphic illustration of what can arguably be described as Mankinds greatest feat of exploration.
411 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 23, 2018
Fascinating read about what Apollo astronauts did once they made it to the moon. Their geology was systematic and intentional. A bit technical, so if you are off put by that, then this will not be an enjoyable read.
What was disappointing to me was the interpretation of the data and the refusal on the part of scientists to adjust their hypotheses, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Plus, are we even asking ourselves the right questions about the moon and its surface?
What was disappointing to me was the interpretation of the data and the refusal on the part of scientists to adjust their hypotheses, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Plus, are we even asking ourselves the right questions about the moon and its surface?
December 27, 2024
It was the 'J' Missions - Apollo 15, 16 & 17 which really delivered the scientific and geological promise of Apollo. With the inclusion of Harrison Schmitt as LMP on Apollo 17, the value of taking a 'proper' geologist to the Moon was realised. Even so, the training provided to the other astronauts was sufficient to ensure they performed pretty well.
Exploring the Moon gives way more insight into the actual surface operations of each Mission. Apollo 11, 12 & 14, though important, were hugely limited because of their lack of a Rover. Add the Rover into the mix and each Landing became a genuine expedition.
On occasions, things didn't go quite-to-plan. Some badly-designed components, such as the core drill that Dave Scott and Jim Irwin took, was misassembled; something that should have been both impossible and revealed in training. The tension between Scott and Mission Control, who insisted on the expenditure of an enormous amount of precious time on a single deep core is palpable. Yet Apollo 15, landing near Hadley Rille and Mount Hadley was a fabulous triumph of human exploration.
John Young and Charlie Duke's Apollo 16 landing added hugely to our knowledge of the Moon, but demonstrated that geologists could get things mighty wrong; what was supposed to be an extensive lava plain at Descartes-Cayley was anything but. Yet the pace at which Duke and Young realised the reality of their location was affirmation to both their training and their willingness, as test pilots and aviators, to become effective geologists in-the-field.
Apollo 17 of course was the final triumph. The interaction between Schmitt and the 'Backroom' through an intermediary was extraordinary, whilst Cernan's (actually the Mission Commander) willingness to be Schmitts field operative worked spectacularly well; with both operating as a highly professional team.
What is also emphasised is that with each Mission, the orbiting CM and Service Module SIM Bay was being progressively upgraded so that the CM pilots were kept busy. Indeed the observations and science performed from the SIM Bay's contributed even more than the surface operations, showing the value of having top-notch technology deployed in orbit.
That orbital capability was demonstrated with the later Clementine mission, a USAF spacecraft that was never actually designed and purposed for Lunar operations, but whose suite of sensors and cameras provided a step-change in Lunar geology comprehension. Harland also provides insight into the pre-Apollo Luna, Ranger and Surveyor missions, and the post Clementine orbiters, though this book was published before the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean orbiters, including those that provided photographs of the landing sites and the equipment left behind.
In his final summing-up Starting over Harland provides a telling insight into how Apollo interrupted what should have been a path of space exploration and exploitation that was, up until JFK's Rice University speech, understood to start with reusable spacecraft and space stations. That speech though short-circuited that path.
In retrospect, it is clear that Apollo was an element of twenty-first century exploration which was somehow drawn forward 50 years and, incredibly implemented with early-1960s electronics technology - a fact which demonstrates the supreme mastery that the astronauts and their ground support team had over their remarkable vehicles.
(pages 332 - 333)
For Lunar-Landing Deniers/Flat Earthers, particularly those with cognitive impairments, the Lunar Landings performed in the 1969/early 1970s provide a huge obstacle to comprehend. They were, and are, like Concorde (Flat Earthers also deny that aeroplanes exist) an historic oddity; when human society, particularly US society reached-out to embrace a goal that initially seemed impossible but was ultimately achieved through engineering excellence underpinned by the then-superb education available at-the-time, and of course, supreme confidence.
Exploring the Moon gives way more insight into the actual surface operations of each Mission. Apollo 11, 12 & 14, though important, were hugely limited because of their lack of a Rover. Add the Rover into the mix and each Landing became a genuine expedition.
On occasions, things didn't go quite-to-plan. Some badly-designed components, such as the core drill that Dave Scott and Jim Irwin took, was misassembled; something that should have been both impossible and revealed in training. The tension between Scott and Mission Control, who insisted on the expenditure of an enormous amount of precious time on a single deep core is palpable. Yet Apollo 15, landing near Hadley Rille and Mount Hadley was a fabulous triumph of human exploration.
John Young and Charlie Duke's Apollo 16 landing added hugely to our knowledge of the Moon, but demonstrated that geologists could get things mighty wrong; what was supposed to be an extensive lava plain at Descartes-Cayley was anything but. Yet the pace at which Duke and Young realised the reality of their location was affirmation to both their training and their willingness, as test pilots and aviators, to become effective geologists in-the-field.
Apollo 17 of course was the final triumph. The interaction between Schmitt and the 'Backroom' through an intermediary was extraordinary, whilst Cernan's (actually the Mission Commander) willingness to be Schmitts field operative worked spectacularly well; with both operating as a highly professional team.
What is also emphasised is that with each Mission, the orbiting CM and Service Module SIM Bay was being progressively upgraded so that the CM pilots were kept busy. Indeed the observations and science performed from the SIM Bay's contributed even more than the surface operations, showing the value of having top-notch technology deployed in orbit.
That orbital capability was demonstrated with the later Clementine mission, a USAF spacecraft that was never actually designed and purposed for Lunar operations, but whose suite of sensors and cameras provided a step-change in Lunar geology comprehension. Harland also provides insight into the pre-Apollo Luna, Ranger and Surveyor missions, and the post Clementine orbiters, though this book was published before the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean orbiters, including those that provided photographs of the landing sites and the equipment left behind.
In his final summing-up Starting over Harland provides a telling insight into how Apollo interrupted what should have been a path of space exploration and exploitation that was, up until JFK's Rice University speech, understood to start with reusable spacecraft and space stations. That speech though short-circuited that path.
In retrospect, it is clear that Apollo was an element of twenty-first century exploration which was somehow drawn forward 50 years and, incredibly implemented with early-1960s electronics technology - a fact which demonstrates the supreme mastery that the astronauts and their ground support team had over their remarkable vehicles.
(pages 332 - 333)
For Lunar-Landing Deniers/Flat Earthers, particularly those with cognitive impairments, the Lunar Landings performed in the 1969/early 1970s provide a huge obstacle to comprehend. They were, and are, like Concorde (Flat Earthers also deny that aeroplanes exist) an historic oddity; when human society, particularly US society reached-out to embrace a goal that initially seemed impossible but was ultimately achieved through engineering excellence underpinned by the then-superb education available at-the-time, and of course, supreme confidence.
December 28, 2016
Although very pleased to have read this book, I did not think it was that gripping. It was fascinating but in a muted way, like watching a big Hollywood blockbuster on an horrible aeroplane television screen. Perhaps the subject matter is just quite old now and there is so much more to impress is in the world of technology and knowledge of space these days.
I loved reading this book because it is exactly what it says, various accounts of events during the Apollo missions. My favourites chapters were done of the early ones that talked about everything as it was being set up. It reminded me how pioneering Apollo was. Could they even land on the Moon or would they sink in the dust? I also loved the chapters where the astronauts wrote about their experiences, such as the one about fated Apollo 13 and the one about final Apollo 17.
I loved reading this book because it is exactly what it says, various accounts of events during the Apollo missions. My favourites chapters were done of the early ones that talked about everything as it was being set up. It reminded me how pioneering Apollo was. Could they even land on the Moon or would they sink in the dust? I also loved the chapters where the astronauts wrote about their experiences, such as the one about fated Apollo 13 and the one about final Apollo 17.
July 26, 2016
This book is a little dry but learning so many details about each Apollo mission was really cool.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews