Destination Moon: The Apollo Missions in the Astronauts' Own Words

by Rod Pyle

The Apollo space program was the largest technical undertaking of the twentieth century. In three short years, from 1969-1972, nine missions headed to the moon, and six of them landed men on its surface and safely returned home.

Destination Moon tells the significant, spectacular, and intriguing story of the Apollo program through first-person accounts by the astronauts themselves; both their mission dialogue and retrospective reminiscences; explained and put into context with expert commentary by Rod Pyle. With more than 100 images, some rarely seen, Destination Moon is a whole new look at one of mankind's most extraordinary achievements.

Genres: History, Space, Nonfiction, Science

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Rod is the author of 15 nonfiction books (plus three for NASA) on his favorite subject, space exploration and technology. He tracks this fascination back to childhood, when his introversion led him to spend countless hours watching rocket launches, moonwalks and science fiction (which often led to truancy, countenanced by an understanding mother). While his contemporaries revered football players (basketball was not really a "thing" yet), he wanted nothing more than to become an astronaut. He now realizes that breaking into a sweat when it takes the elevator doors a few moments too long to open probably makes him a poor candidate for spaceflight.

While Rod actually attended seven colleges and universities in the search of the perfect major, he ended up getting a BA at the Art Center College of Design in film (because only poetry is less likely to get you a job), and an MA from Stanford University (where the weather is even better).

He lives in Pasadena, CA but dreams of azure seas and tropical shores.

Reviews

[Melissa Frye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look into the Apollo program with interesting tidbits direct from the Astronauts' mouths. I had a problem with the book's layout though; the chapters start but are interrupted by profiles of the crews on the missions. I like the profiles but their positions interrupted the flow of the stories.

[Klara Oh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destination Moon pairs magnificent, mind-boggling photos with the firsthand accounts of the Astronauts who were part of the Apollo Missions. The book takes the reader chronologically through the seventeen Apollo Missions- both their failures and amazing successes.
Vibrant, evocative photographs fill the pages, which directly connects the reader to the experiences of the Astronauts. The majority of these photos are in color and they show the splendor of the Apollo Mission‰Ûªs achievements. The pictures of space and the moon are stunningly beautiful, and not all of them are as well-known as the photo of Neil Armstrong and his first step on the moon. With the vibrant, majestic pictures, the reader is transported back to the missions with the Apollo Astronauts.
The book is written in a compelling way, and includes dialogue and interviews that came straight from NASA. The author, Rod Pyle, also incorporates brief biographies of each and every crew member that was part of the Apollo Missions. Quotes and short discussions from the astronauts‰Ûª missions are scattered throughout the pages of Destination Moon. As its title suggests, the book describes the journey to the Apollo Mission‰Ûªs ultimate goal: reaching the moon, but it also includes the Missions preceding and succeeding the successful Moon Missions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the gripping stories of the Astronauts‰Ûª challenges and experiences. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Apollo Missions.

[Rod Pyle]

No comment- wrote it, must abstain ;)

[chamilet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining read. Some snippets of the astronauts' own words during their missions. The pictures are great as well. At the end there's a glossary of terms and also a list of websites that I'm going to be sure to check out.

[Jane Roxanne Beamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good brief overview of the Apollo Missions. It's light on text and heavy on pictures, but what pictures!

Not much actual information, more of a very good summary, but it really raised my appreciation of the missions.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great!!!

[Collin Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who missed the last moon walk by 25 years it’s really cool to have something like this quasi-transcription and get to see the moon missions as if you’re seeing them in real time.

[Marc Therrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un voyage fascinant de l'exploration lunaire. À lire pour tout passionné de l'espace.

[Gareth Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

an amazing book of pictures including the real pictures of mission control during the Apollo 13 crisis. Also useful to get an overview of the missions where the first steps were literally into the unknown

[Tammy Powley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book with extraordinary photographs. It includes actual transcripts from the Apollo launches. I plan to buy this as a gift for an ex-NASA guy I know.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's not much in here that I haven't read or seen before, but it's nice to have such a well-printed and concise collection of essays and photographs from the Apollo missions.

[Rodman Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

terrific book expertly written, great photos and graphics