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Apollo Program: A History from Beginning to End
Discover the remarkable history of the Apollo Program...
Free BONUS Inside!
On May 25, 1961, less than two months after a Soviet cosmonaut had made the very first space flight, President John F. Kennedy told Congress, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”
The Space Race, the technological confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, had barely begun, and it was clear that America was lagging behind. Yet here was a U.S. president committing the nation to achieving one of the most challenging goals ever to face humankind. Somehow, in just over eight years, American engineers and technicians were expected to design and build an entirely new series of spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to the Moon.
The Apollo Program would face one of the boldest challenges ever set by any national leader in peacetime. It was also one of the most complex and expensive projects ever undertaken; it eventually cost $28 billion (over $280 billion in current value), employed over 400,000 people, and subcontracted work to more than 20,000 companies. This is the story of how America—and the world—responded to the challenge set by John F. Kennedy.
Discover a plethora of topics such asFirst Tentative Steps into SpaceAiming at the MoonApollo 1: The Fatal FireApollo 11: The Moon LandingSubsequent Apollo MissionsAn Uncertain FutureAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on the Apollo Program, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
Free BONUS Inside!
On May 25, 1961, less than two months after a Soviet cosmonaut had made the very first space flight, President John F. Kennedy told Congress, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”
The Space Race, the technological confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, had barely begun, and it was clear that America was lagging behind. Yet here was a U.S. president committing the nation to achieving one of the most challenging goals ever to face humankind. Somehow, in just over eight years, American engineers and technicians were expected to design and build an entirely new series of spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to the Moon.
The Apollo Program would face one of the boldest challenges ever set by any national leader in peacetime. It was also one of the most complex and expensive projects ever undertaken; it eventually cost $28 billion (over $280 billion in current value), employed over 400,000 people, and subcontracted work to more than 20,000 companies. This is the story of how America—and the world—responded to the challenge set by John F. Kennedy.
Discover a plethora of topics such asFirst Tentative Steps into SpaceAiming at the MoonApollo 1: The Fatal FireApollo 11: The Moon LandingSubsequent Apollo MissionsAn Uncertain FutureAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on the Apollo Program, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
62 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2022
84 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 15, 2022
This is a just short booklet, not anything in depth but it’s a good concise general overview of the Apollo missions
October 18, 2022
Anyone who grew up in the 1960's had at least a passing interest in the space program. This short recap of that era promotes a sense of nostalgia.
December 23, 2022
Well written and well compiled.
***
"Apollo 13 left its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center at 2:13 pm on April 11, 1970. Earth orbit and trans-lunar injection went as planned, and the crew of three astronauts—Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise—settled in for the three-day journey to the Moon. Then, at 10:08 pm, April 13, Houston received a worrying radio transmission from the craft, “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”
"The problem was an explosion in an oxygen tank that vented all the oxygen from two of the Service Module’s tanks into space. It rapidly became apparent that a Moon landing was no longer possible, and the remainder of the mission became a desperate struggle to keep the three astronauts alive while they returned to Earth. All non-essential services were shut down, and the crew used the cramped Command Module as a type of lifeboat while they looped around the Moon and returned to Earth.
"Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apollo 13 received more television coverage than any other space mission to date. Millions of people around the world waited anxiously for updates. When the capsule finally splashed down safely on April 17, this event was watched live by an estimated 100 million viewers in America and elsewhere. On April 18, The New York Times reported that this mission “in all probability united the world in mutual concern more fully than another successful landing on the Moon would have.”"
Something known only within India, not publicized by the then government owned media, was that Hindu priests in South India had performed a Yajna for safe return of the astronauts. Needless to say this was conducted not only quietly - without publicity - but also without any government or private agencies funding it.
***
"Following the accident on Apollo 13, Project Apollo was once again grounded while investigators isolated the cause of the explosion and ensured that it could not re-occur. Launches resumed in February 1971 with Apollo 14, which successfully placed men in the Fra Mauro crater. Apollo 15 then launched on July 26, 1971, and was notable as the first Moon landing to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle, an electric buggy that allowed the astronauts to explore a larger area during their time on the lunar surface.
"Apollo 16 landed two astronauts in the Descartes Highlands area of the Moon on April 21, 1972. The two men spent almost three days on the Moon before the craft returned safely to Earth. Apollo 17 placed two men in the Taurus–Littrow region in December 1972. For the first time, one of these astronauts was not an ex-military pilot; Geologist Harrison Schmitt was the first NASA scientist/astronaut. Schmitt was also one of the last humans to set foot on the Moon. Public interest in Moon landings was lessening. The Apollo 17 Moonwalks were not even broadcast on live television, despite the quality of images being significantly improved from earlier missions. With the successful completion of the Apollo 17 mission, Project Apollo came to an end."
Wouldn't have anything to do with Watergate, would that?
***
"Ironically, NASA’s success in completing the first Moon landing within the period set by President Kennedy was also the root of a reduction of interest in space exploration. While it was fighting to attain this milestone, NASA enjoyed virtually unopposed political support in the United States. When the Moon landing was accomplished, many people began to question whether the continued expenditure of vast sums on spaceflight was justified, and from 1969 on, NASA’s annual budget decreased each year."
It's also that during sixties - an era that saw relaxation of standards of education, so much so that in eighties a college student would as likely as not know that one divided by two is half - a celebration of illiteracy and a mistaken ideology or thinking that placed idiots on par with the best and the brilliant had those lots question if their daily dozen beers must be foregone for taxes to pay for NASA, leading them to question NASA and even accuse NASA of perpetrating fraud by having shot lunar landing in a studio. Those virulent verbal attacks are rampant across internet, especially by flatearthers and bible belt.
***
"Part of the issue was that America itself had changed from the early 1960s when President Kennedy made his bold and optimistic claim. In 1962, America was at peace, even though it faced the Soviet Union in the Cold War. The American economy was recovering from the recession of 1960-1961, and most Americans were optimistic about the future. By the time that Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, America was about to enter a new recession, partly caused by U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam. By April 1969, more than half a million U.S. troops were serving in Vietnam, and a growing anti-war movement was beginning to question whether this was appropriate or desirable.
"By the time of the last Moon landings in 1972, America was facing another recession and massive inflation prompted partly by rising oil prices. In these circumstances, it is unsurprising that many people began to question the vast sums being spent on space exploration.
"When Apollo 12 splashed down in November 1969, it had already been decided that all the remaining Saturn V rockets would not be used for Moon missions. One was to be used to launch the Skylab orbital laboratory—that eliminated Apollo 20. After the successful completion of the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, President Richard Nixon proposed canceling all remaining Apollo missions. He was persuaded to allow two more to go ahead, but the last two Saturn V rockets (originally intended to be used on Apollo missions 18 and 19) were to be donated to museums in Florida and Texas."
Why does author refrain from mention of Watergate?
***
"During Project Apollo, many people in NASA had assumed that a successful Moon landing would be followed by the establishment of a permanent base on the Moon and perhaps also by manned missions to Mars. In October 1969, the NASA Headquarters Office of Manned Space Flight published details of a proposed new project that would lead to a manned landing on Mars by either 1981 or 1983. President Nixon rejected this proposal and suggested that NASA look instead at the possibility of developing some form of less expensive, reusable, winged spacecraft. NASA then produced the Space Transportation System (STS), which looked at a number of possible future space projects. The only one given funding was the development of a reusable spacecraft."
Of course! Had to be Nixon that took an axe to NASA and aspirations for space, while prioritising spying on political opponents.
***
"Of course, the race to put a human on the Moon wasn’t simply about altruism or exploration. It was also part of the ongoing competition in the development of arms and technology between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Space Race was simply the most obvious part of this competition, and there seemed little doubt that the nation that won this race would gain a lasting advantage over the other.
"The first Moon landing in 1969 became one of the most enduring memories of the twentieth century for many people. A nation had committed a great part of its wealth not to fighting a war but to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and creativity. It seemed that perhaps the human race was finally ready to abandon wars on this planet in order to find the resources to explore the vastness of space.
"That wasn’t quite how things worked out. Although Project Apollo was a triumphant success, instead of spurring further space exploration, the huge costs involved convinced many people that this was not something any single nation, no matter how wealthy, could afford to pursue. The money that America might have used to fund the establishment of permanent bases on the Moon or even manned missions to Mars was instead spent on fighting the disastrous war in Vietnam."
It wouldn't have gone that way had JFK lived. Hence, as stated by Jim Garrison, the assassination in November 1963. Subsequent presidents were key to tremendous profits for military industry and war machinery.
***
"Humanity has dreamed of traveling to space for a very long time. The notion that this might be a practical possibility was first explored in fiction. In 1865, French novelist Jules Verne published one of his most popular works, From the Earth to the Moon. This imagined men being sent to the Moon in a vehicle fired from a giant gun. Although it later became apparent that this wasn’t a practical proposition, ... "
This is too literal an interpretation of gun by this author - and if one takes overall principles and general sketches, "sent to the Moon in a vehicle fired from a giant gun" isn't so far ftom the eventual facts of a vehicle lifted off planet via rockets firing.
" ... Verne was one of the first to describe in this book and its sequel—Around the Moon (1870)—the hazards that astronauts might face, including weightlessness and the fiery heat of re-entry. Other popular romantic novels followed, including The First Men in the Moon (1900) by British novelist H. G. Wells.
***
"Goddard then relocated to Roswell in New Mexico, where he built and launched a series of increasingly powerful and sophisticated rockets throughout the 1930s. In light of the later Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States, it is more than a little ironic that the two earliest pioneers of rocketry were based in Russia and America."
But author fails to notice that the name Roswell was later associated with incidents involving aliens being sighted.
Could this be because the earlier firing of rocket was noticed and it took them a few decades to arrive?
***
"“The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.”
"—Konstantin Tsiolkovsky"
Or, possibly, the only home?
If there's life elsewhere, or possibilities thereof, why assume it's oxygen based?
***
"During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were allies fighting against Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. However, almost as soon as that war ended, it became clear that these two nations were the new superpowers that would dominate the post-war world. Political and philosophical differences ensured that the alliance between the two did not endure, and within a few years of the end of the war, Russia and America faced one another on terms of barely concealed hostility."
It's exaggeration to say "within a few years of the end of the war", except when lying deliberately - or in total ignorance.
Russians had reasons enough to be askance, but attitudes of the likes of Patton, Dulles et al didn't help, either - the latter along with several other US personnel helped German and other war criminals escape, or integrate back into German and other societies, while the former could single-handedly have caused the third world war, but definitely did set in motion a higher level of distrust in Soviets, leading perhaps to cold war all by himself.
***
"Operation Paperclip was a secret intelligence program designed to identify potentially useful German personnel (the name was used because the files of useful people were marked by the attachment of a large paperclip). In all, this operation would see over 1,500 German scientists, engineers, and technicians brought to America, mainly to work on military projects. A large proportion of these people had been associated with the Nazi rocket program."
If only that were all!
But it wasn't.
***
"Concurrently, the Soviet Union was running an identical program that resulted in over 2,000 senior Nazi scientists being relocated to Russia. Both sides were clearly aware of the importance of space. The covert race to be the first to exploit this potential new theater of war began even before World War II ended and while the United States and Soviet Union were still officially allies."
Readers are seemingly led to infer that the progress in space was possible, in either nation, only due to the nazis.
If there's any shred of Truth there, why not say so, flat out?
Germans do, and not necessarily in context of space.
***
" ... Only much later would it become known that von Braun had not only been a member of the Nazi Party but had also held the rank of Sturmbannführer (Major) in the SS."
One may safely bet that the "Only much later would it become known" is only in context of general public and media of US.
***
"Thirty-two astronauts were selected to take part in the Apollo missions. Some were veterans of previous Mercury or Gemini space flights; other were new recruits who had successfully completed NASA astronaut training. When the first crewed Apollo mission launch was announced for February 21, 1967, the astronauts included two with space experience: the commander was Virgil “Gus” Grissom, who had taken part in flights in both Mercury and Gemini crafts, and Ed White, who had flown in Gemini 4. The third crew member, Roger B. Chaffee, was a naval pilot and aeronautical engineer who had yet to fly in space.
"This mission, later named Apollo 1, would involve the launch of a Block 1 CSM into Earth orbit on a Saturn 1 rocket. The mission, which was expected to last two weeks, would be an opportunity to test the CSM in orbit and to check the ability of tracking stations on the ground. On January 27, all three astronauts entered the Apollo capsule for a “plugs out” flight simulation on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34. The purpose of this test was to confirm the ability of the Apollo craft to function after it was disconnected from its attachment to the launch gantry. Because the craft contained no fuel, this was classed as a “non-hazardous” test, and, critically, the explosive bolts that could be used to jettison the main hatch in an emergency were not fitted.
***
"At around 2:45 pm, the hatches were sealed, the capsule flooded with pure oxygen, and the simulated countdown began. There were several interruptions due to technical problems, and at 6:31 pm, while the astronauts were waiting for the countdown to resume, there was an unexpected radio transmission from inside the capsule, “We’ve got a fire in the cockpit.” Seven seconds later, there was a second frantic radio call, “We’ve got a bad fire. Let’s get out. We’re burning up.”
"Fueled by the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside the capsule, the fire raged. It took five minutes to get the hatch open. By the time the ground crew were able to see inside, it was clear that all three astronauts had died. Although three other U.S. astronauts had died in aircraft crashes, this was the first fatal accident during Project Apollo. The program was grounded while the causes of the fire were investigated.
"Investigations showed that an electrical fault had caused a spark that ignited the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside the capsule. The Block 1 CSM was also found to be hazardous and carelessly assembled (for example, a discarded wrench was found inside). It was agreed that Block 1 craft would only be used for uncrewed tests and that all manned launches would use the Block 2 design. This included, amongst many other improvements, a crew hatch that could be opened from the inside in less than five seconds.
***
"Uncrewed testing continued from November 1967 to April 1968. Apollo 4, launched on November 9, 1967, saw a Saturn V launch vehicle take a Block 2 CSM into Earth’s orbit. Apollo 5, on January 22, 1968, saw both a Block 2 CSM and a Lunar Module placed in Earth’s orbit. Apollo 6 launched on April 4, 1968, and successfully tested the CSM and LM on a trans-lunar injection and a simulated abort to return both crafts to Earth. The success of these missions allowed a manned mission, Apollo 7, which launched on October 11, 1968. This saw astronauts Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Ronnie Cunningham spending 11 days in Earth’s orbit testing CSM systems. This mission was a success, and the capsule and astronauts returned safely to Earth.
"The completion of the first successful manned mission was a giant step forward for NASA and Project Apollo. The next launch was scheduled for December 1968. However, the truth was that Project Apollo was behind schedule and in danger of failing to meet the deadline of placing a man on the Moon in the 1960s. Barely two years remained, and an Apollo craft had not yet traveled outside the orbit of the Earth. Meanwhile, in September 1968, Russia sent the Zond 5 spacecraft to orbit the Moon, carrying a tortoise and mealworms which were safely returned to Earth. Many in NASA were worried that it was only a matter of time before Soviet cosmonauts carried out the same mission. Once again, it seemed that America might be at risk of falling behind in the Space Race.
"Apollo 8 had been intended as another Earth orbit mission, sending both a Block 2 CSM and a Lunar Module into orbit for testing. However, it became clear that the next Lunar Module would not be completed in time to be used on this mission. Instead, NASA made a bold decision: the Apollo 8 mission would instead be sent to complete the first manned orbit of the Moon."
***
"Apollo 8 was only the second manned Apollo mission, but astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders were expected to achieve a number of significant firsts. They would take part in the first manned spaceflight to reach the Moon. They would be the first humans to see the dark side of the Moon. If all went well, they would also become the first people to travel to the Moon and return safely to Earth. However, many in NASA felt that the mission was too risky; some gave the mission no more than a 50% possibility of success.
"Apollo 8 left its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center at 07:51on December 21, 1968. It spent more than two hours in Earth’s orbit while the astronauts and flight controllers in Houston checked systems. Two hours and twenty minutes after launch, the mission controller sent a radio message to the astronauts, “Apollo 8. You are Go for TLI.” Apollo 8 was ready for trans-lunar injection—the three-day trip to the Moon. A little more than 69 hours after launch, Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit. The tiny craft made ten orbits around the Moon, regularly disappearing and losing radio contact when it passed behind the dark side.
***
"Over 1,200 journalists from 54 countries covered the mission in 15 languages. It has been estimated that more than one-quarter of the population of the Earth saw (either live or recorded) the Christmas Eve broadcast from Apollo 8. Even the Soviet newspaper Pravda carried a quote from the chairman of the Soviet Interkosmos program, who hailed the mission as an “outstanding achievement of American space sciences and ....
***
"Apollo 13 left its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center at 2:13 pm on April 11, 1970. Earth orbit and trans-lunar injection went as planned, and the crew of three astronauts—Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise—settled in for the three-day journey to the Moon. Then, at 10:08 pm, April 13, Houston received a worrying radio transmission from the craft, “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”
"The problem was an explosion in an oxygen tank that vented all the oxygen from two of the Service Module’s tanks into space. It rapidly became apparent that a Moon landing was no longer possible, and the remainder of the mission became a desperate struggle to keep the three astronauts alive while they returned to Earth. All non-essential services were shut down, and the crew used the cramped Command Module as a type of lifeboat while they looped around the Moon and returned to Earth.
"Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apollo 13 received more television coverage than any other space mission to date. Millions of people around the world waited anxiously for updates. When the capsule finally splashed down safely on April 17, this event was watched live by an estimated 100 million viewers in America and elsewhere. On April 18, The New York Times reported that this mission “in all probability united the world in mutual concern more fully than another successful landing on the Moon would have.”"
Something known only within India, not publicized by the then government owned media, was that Hindu priests in South India had performed a Yajna for safe return of the astronauts. Needless to say this was conducted not only quietly - without publicity - but also without any government or private agencies funding it.
***
"Following the accident on Apollo 13, Project Apollo was once again grounded while investigators isolated the cause of the explosion and ensured that it could not re-occur. Launches resumed in February 1971 with Apollo 14, which successfully placed men in the Fra Mauro crater. Apollo 15 then launched on July 26, 1971, and was notable as the first Moon landing to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle, an electric buggy that allowed the astronauts to explore a larger area during their time on the lunar surface.
"Apollo 16 landed two astronauts in the Descartes Highlands area of the Moon on April 21, 1972. The two men spent almost three days on the Moon before the craft returned safely to Earth. Apollo 17 placed two men in the Taurus–Littrow region in December 1972. For the first time, one of these astronauts was not an ex-military pilot; Geologist Harrison Schmitt was the first NASA scientist/astronaut. Schmitt was also one of the last humans to set foot on the Moon. Public interest in Moon landings was lessening. The Apollo 17 Moonwalks were not even broadcast on live television, despite the quality of images being significantly improved from earlier missions. With the successful completion of the Apollo 17 mission, Project Apollo came to an end."
Wouldn't have anything to do with Watergate, would that?
***
"Ironically, NASA’s success in completing the first Moon landing within the period set by President Kennedy was also the root of a reduction of interest in space exploration. While it was fighting to attain this milestone, NASA enjoyed virtually unopposed political support in the United States. When the Moon landing was accomplished, many people began to question whether the continued expenditure of vast sums on spaceflight was justified, and from 1969 on, NASA’s annual budget decreased each year."
It's also that during sixties - an era that saw relaxation of standards of education, so much so that in eighties a college student would as likely as not know that one divided by two is half - a celebration of illiteracy and a mistaken ideology or thinking that placed idiots on par with the best and the brilliant had those lots question if their daily dozen beers must be foregone for taxes to pay for NASA, leading them to question NASA and even accuse NASA of perpetrating fraud by having shot lunar landing in a studio. Those virulent verbal attacks are rampant across internet, especially by flatearthers and bible belt.
***
"Part of the issue was that America itself had changed from the early 1960s when President Kennedy made his bold and optimistic claim. In 1962, America was at peace, even though it faced the Soviet Union in the Cold War. The American economy was recovering from the recession of 1960-1961, and most Americans were optimistic about the future. By the time that Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, America was about to enter a new recession, partly caused by U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam. By April 1969, more than half a million U.S. troops were serving in Vietnam, and a growing anti-war movement was beginning to question whether this was appropriate or desirable.
"By the time of the last Moon landings in 1972, America was facing another recession and massive inflation prompted partly by rising oil prices. In these circumstances, it is unsurprising that many people began to question the vast sums being spent on space exploration.
"When Apollo 12 splashed down in November 1969, it had already been decided that all the remaining Saturn V rockets would not be used for Moon missions. One was to be used to launch the Skylab orbital laboratory—that eliminated Apollo 20. After the successful completion of the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, President Richard Nixon proposed canceling all remaining Apollo missions. He was persuaded to allow two more to go ahead, but the last two Saturn V rockets (originally intended to be used on Apollo missions 18 and 19) were to be donated to museums in Florida and Texas."
Why does author refrain from mention of Watergate?
***
"During Project Apollo, many people in NASA had assumed that a successful Moon landing would be followed by the establishment of a permanent base on the Moon and perhaps also by manned missions to Mars. In October 1969, the NASA Headquarters Office of Manned Space Flight published details of a proposed new project that would lead to a manned landing on Mars by either 1981 or 1983. President Nixon rejected this proposal and suggested that NASA look instead at the possibility of developing some form of less expensive, reusable, winged spacecraft. NASA then produced the Space Transportation System (STS), which looked at a number of possible future space projects. The only one given funding was the development of a reusable spacecraft."
Of course! Had to be Nixon that took an axe to NASA and aspirations for space, while prioritising spying on political opponents.
***
"Of course, the race to put a human on the Moon wasn’t simply about altruism or exploration. It was also part of the ongoing competition in the development of arms and technology between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Space Race was simply the most obvious part of this competition, and there seemed little doubt that the nation that won this race would gain a lasting advantage over the other.
"The first Moon landing in 1969 became one of the most enduring memories of the twentieth century for many people. A nation had committed a great part of its wealth not to fighting a war but to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and creativity. It seemed that perhaps the human race was finally ready to abandon wars on this planet in order to find the resources to explore the vastness of space.
"That wasn’t quite how things worked out. Although Project Apollo was a triumphant success, instead of spurring further space exploration, the huge costs involved convinced many people that this was not something any single nation, no matter how wealthy, could afford to pursue. The money that America might have used to fund the establishment of permanent bases on the Moon or even manned missions to Mars was instead spent on fighting the disastrous war in Vietnam."
It wouldn't have gone that way had JFK lived. Hence, as stated by Jim Garrison, the assassination in November 1963. Subsequent presidents were key to tremendous profits for military industry and war machinery.
***
"Humanity has dreamed of traveling to space for a very long time. The notion that this might be a practical possibility was first explored in fiction. In 1865, French novelist Jules Verne published one of his most popular works, From the Earth to the Moon. This imagined men being sent to the Moon in a vehicle fired from a giant gun. Although it later became apparent that this wasn’t a practical proposition, ... "
This is too literal an interpretation of gun by this author - and if one takes overall principles and general sketches, "sent to the Moon in a vehicle fired from a giant gun" isn't so far ftom the eventual facts of a vehicle lifted off planet via rockets firing.
" ... Verne was one of the first to describe in this book and its sequel—Around the Moon (1870)—the hazards that astronauts might face, including weightlessness and the fiery heat of re-entry. Other popular romantic novels followed, including The First Men in the Moon (1900) by British novelist H. G. Wells.
***
"Goddard then relocated to Roswell in New Mexico, where he built and launched a series of increasingly powerful and sophisticated rockets throughout the 1930s. In light of the later Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States, it is more than a little ironic that the two earliest pioneers of rocketry were based in Russia and America."
But author fails to notice that the name Roswell was later associated with incidents involving aliens being sighted.
Could this be because the earlier firing of rocket was noticed and it took them a few decades to arrive?
***
"“The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.”
"—Konstantin Tsiolkovsky"
Or, possibly, the only home?
If there's life elsewhere, or possibilities thereof, why assume it's oxygen based?
***
"During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were allies fighting against Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. However, almost as soon as that war ended, it became clear that these two nations were the new superpowers that would dominate the post-war world. Political and philosophical differences ensured that the alliance between the two did not endure, and within a few years of the end of the war, Russia and America faced one another on terms of barely concealed hostility."
It's exaggeration to say "within a few years of the end of the war", except when lying deliberately - or in total ignorance.
Russians had reasons enough to be askance, but attitudes of the likes of Patton, Dulles et al didn't help, either - the latter along with several other US personnel helped German and other war criminals escape, or integrate back into German and other societies, while the former could single-handedly have caused the third world war, but definitely did set in motion a higher level of distrust in Soviets, leading perhaps to cold war all by himself.
***
"Operation Paperclip was a secret intelligence program designed to identify potentially useful German personnel (the name was used because the files of useful people were marked by the attachment of a large paperclip). In all, this operation would see over 1,500 German scientists, engineers, and technicians brought to America, mainly to work on military projects. A large proportion of these people had been associated with the Nazi rocket program."
If only that were all!
But it wasn't.
***
"Concurrently, the Soviet Union was running an identical program that resulted in over 2,000 senior Nazi scientists being relocated to Russia. Both sides were clearly aware of the importance of space. The covert race to be the first to exploit this potential new theater of war began even before World War II ended and while the United States and Soviet Union were still officially allies."
Readers are seemingly led to infer that the progress in space was possible, in either nation, only due to the nazis.
If there's any shred of Truth there, why not say so, flat out?
Germans do, and not necessarily in context of space.
***
" ... Only much later would it become known that von Braun had not only been a member of the Nazi Party but had also held the rank of Sturmbannführer (Major) in the SS."
One may safely bet that the "Only much later would it become known" is only in context of general public and media of US.
***
"Thirty-two astronauts were selected to take part in the Apollo missions. Some were veterans of previous Mercury or Gemini space flights; other were new recruits who had successfully completed NASA astronaut training. When the first crewed Apollo mission launch was announced for February 21, 1967, the astronauts included two with space experience: the commander was Virgil “Gus” Grissom, who had taken part in flights in both Mercury and Gemini crafts, and Ed White, who had flown in Gemini 4. The third crew member, Roger B. Chaffee, was a naval pilot and aeronautical engineer who had yet to fly in space.
"This mission, later named Apollo 1, would involve the launch of a Block 1 CSM into Earth orbit on a Saturn 1 rocket. The mission, which was expected to last two weeks, would be an opportunity to test the CSM in orbit and to check the ability of tracking stations on the ground. On January 27, all three astronauts entered the Apollo capsule for a “plugs out” flight simulation on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34. The purpose of this test was to confirm the ability of the Apollo craft to function after it was disconnected from its attachment to the launch gantry. Because the craft contained no fuel, this was classed as a “non-hazardous” test, and, critically, the explosive bolts that could be used to jettison the main hatch in an emergency were not fitted.
***
"At around 2:45 pm, the hatches were sealed, the capsule flooded with pure oxygen, and the simulated countdown began. There were several interruptions due to technical problems, and at 6:31 pm, while the astronauts were waiting for the countdown to resume, there was an unexpected radio transmission from inside the capsule, “We’ve got a fire in the cockpit.” Seven seconds later, there was a second frantic radio call, “We’ve got a bad fire. Let’s get out. We’re burning up.”
"Fueled by the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside the capsule, the fire raged. It took five minutes to get the hatch open. By the time the ground crew were able to see inside, it was clear that all three astronauts had died. Although three other U.S. astronauts had died in aircraft crashes, this was the first fatal accident during Project Apollo. The program was grounded while the causes of the fire were investigated.
"Investigations showed that an electrical fault had caused a spark that ignited the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside the capsule. The Block 1 CSM was also found to be hazardous and carelessly assembled (for example, a discarded wrench was found inside). It was agreed that Block 1 craft would only be used for uncrewed tests and that all manned launches would use the Block 2 design. This included, amongst many other improvements, a crew hatch that could be opened from the inside in less than five seconds.
***
"Uncrewed testing continued from November 1967 to April 1968. Apollo 4, launched on November 9, 1967, saw a Saturn V launch vehicle take a Block 2 CSM into Earth’s orbit. Apollo 5, on January 22, 1968, saw both a Block 2 CSM and a Lunar Module placed in Earth’s orbit. Apollo 6 launched on April 4, 1968, and successfully tested the CSM and LM on a trans-lunar injection and a simulated abort to return both crafts to Earth. The success of these missions allowed a manned mission, Apollo 7, which launched on October 11, 1968. This saw astronauts Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Ronnie Cunningham spending 11 days in Earth’s orbit testing CSM systems. This mission was a success, and the capsule and astronauts returned safely to Earth.
"The completion of the first successful manned mission was a giant step forward for NASA and Project Apollo. The next launch was scheduled for December 1968. However, the truth was that Project Apollo was behind schedule and in danger of failing to meet the deadline of placing a man on the Moon in the 1960s. Barely two years remained, and an Apollo craft had not yet traveled outside the orbit of the Earth. Meanwhile, in September 1968, Russia sent the Zond 5 spacecraft to orbit the Moon, carrying a tortoise and mealworms which were safely returned to Earth. Many in NASA were worried that it was only a matter of time before Soviet cosmonauts carried out the same mission. Once again, it seemed that America might be at risk of falling behind in the Space Race.
"Apollo 8 had been intended as another Earth orbit mission, sending both a Block 2 CSM and a Lunar Module into orbit for testing. However, it became clear that the next Lunar Module would not be completed in time to be used on this mission. Instead, NASA made a bold decision: the Apollo 8 mission would instead be sent to complete the first manned orbit of the Moon."
***
"Apollo 8 was only the second manned Apollo mission, but astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders were expected to achieve a number of significant firsts. They would take part in the first manned spaceflight to reach the Moon. They would be the first humans to see the dark side of the Moon. If all went well, they would also become the first people to travel to the Moon and return safely to Earth. However, many in NASA felt that the mission was too risky; some gave the mission no more than a 50% possibility of success.
"Apollo 8 left its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center at 07:51on December 21, 1968. It spent more than two hours in Earth’s orbit while the astronauts and flight controllers in Houston checked systems. Two hours and twenty minutes after launch, the mission controller sent a radio message to the astronauts, “Apollo 8. You are Go for TLI.” Apollo 8 was ready for trans-lunar injection—the three-day trip to the Moon. A little more than 69 hours after launch, Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit. The tiny craft made ten orbits around the Moon, regularly disappearing and losing radio contact when it passed behind the dark side.
***
"Over 1,200 journalists from 54 countries covered the mission in 15 languages. It has been estimated that more than one-quarter of the population of the Earth saw (either live or recorded) the Christmas Eve broadcast from Apollo 8. Even the Soviet newspaper Pravda carried a quote from the chairman of the Soviet Interkosmos program, who hailed the mission as an “outstanding achievement of American space sciences and ....
May 15, 2025
Factual Outline on the Apollo Program
A factual outline on the progression of the NASA Apollo program. Not a lot of meat on the bones of this book. Having watch this whole process as a
young child I was hoping to learn more of the backstory of what was taking place. The fire in Apollo 1 was covered very basically. Having read the NASA report on the fire myself I was looking for more information on this particular topic covered in this book.
A factual outline on the progression of the NASA Apollo program. Not a lot of meat on the bones of this book. Having watch this whole process as a
young child I was hoping to learn more of the backstory of what was taking place. The fire in Apollo 1 was covered very basically. Having read the NASA report on the fire myself I was looking for more information on this particular topic covered in this book.
October 21, 2022
Amazing feat
Very concise history of the greatest project ever attempted by any country. 11 manned flights into space. 12 men set foot on another world and the only to have done it.
Very concise history of the greatest project ever attempted by any country. 11 manned flights into space. 12 men set foot on another world and the only to have done it.
November 12, 2022
President Kennedy and the U.S. Space For Man to walk on the Moon
A great read. Full with dates and the people who were driven by President Kennedy's challenge for placing a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
A great read. Full with dates and the people who were driven by President Kennedy's challenge for placing a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
January 2, 2023
The Apollo
A condensed account of the program with its challenges, achievements, and legacy this book from hourly History is a bit bland and dry mostly names, dates, and statistics
A condensed account of the program with its challenges, achievements, and legacy this book from hourly History is a bit bland and dry mostly names, dates, and statistics
March 12, 2023
American Space Apollo Successes and Failures
I was in High School and College during the Sixties decade of space exploration and this book brought back the memories of the successes and failures during this time
I was in High School and College during the Sixties decade of space exploration and this book brought back the memories of the successes and failures during this time
September 23, 2025
Another good history [I've learned that basically they can't handle politics past 1964 or Bible biographies without an agenda taking over. This one was basically able to stand far enough away from politics to give a decent history. I enjoyed it having actually lived through most of it.
October 14, 2025
This was another great book from the series History from Beginning to End. This one got to me emotionally. I have no idea why, but I got a knot in the pit of my stomach and cried in a couple of parts. It was so nerve-racking when they were having trouble that it was harrowing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2022
A good review of the Apollo Space Program.
November 22, 2022
Great overview
This book not only details the “well known” events, but also helps us become aware of subsequent missions that seem to get left out of historyl
This book not only details the “well known” events, but also helps us become aware of subsequent missions that seem to get left out of historyl
April 25, 2023
Nice high level view of the space race. Written from the Western perspective but interesting and informative nonetheless.
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