The Apollo Missions: The Incredible Story of the Race to the Moon

Long has the moon captured the imagination of world; from science fiction to astrology; howling wolves to lunar calendars. To President John F. Kennedy, however, the moon was a destination. To put a man on the moon would be to challenge Russia's recent achievements in space exploration and assert the US's technological prowess on the world stage. As we know, the mission was a success, and yet while everyone is familiar with Neil Armstrong's iconic line and his bold tread on the moon's dusty surface, few are privy to the events leading up to this moment. Former NASA engineer, David Baker, gives a behind-the-scenes account of the space race, including the political impetus behind the mission, the Apollo 8's lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, as well as some of the tale's tragedies. Bursting with fascinating stories, striking photographs of the team and exclusive material provided by NASA personnel, this book perfectly captures the risk, complexity and gravitas of this immense journey.ABOUT THE SERIES: Sirius Visual Reference Library brings together wonderfully illustrated reference guides on scientific and historical topics, made bold and fascinating through full-color maps, timelines, photographs, feature boxes and other visual elements. July 2019 will see the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing by astronauts from Apollo 11. Over 10 chapters David Baker follows the chronology of the space programme, from the early manned missions to the impetus provided by President J F Kennedy, and culminating in a detailed account of the Apollo II mission and the success of NASA to win the race to the Moon. Will contain approximately 34,000 words. Read more