Chariots for Apollo: The Making of the Lunar Module [Hardcover]

Charles R. Pellegrino (Author), Joshua Stoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1985

It began in the depths of the Cold War, with two nations hurtling steel chariots into the atmosphere, each vowing to be the first to the moon. Then, in 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged America -- and from Long Island to Cape Canaveral, Houston to Huntsville, an army of engineers, scientists, bureaucrats and astronauts were swept up into the effort. Somehow, America would put a man on the moon's surface and bring him back safely before the decade was over. But how?

For eight frantic years the engineers would design and redesign, the scientists would argue, and brave men would trust their lives to virtually untested machinery. This dramatic chronicle of the race to the moon takes us behind the scenes of this awesome quest, into the minds of the people whose lives were devoted to it and changed by it, and through the missions themselves -- including the tragedy of Apollo 13. A riveting portrait of ingenuity, determination, and raw human courage, "Chariots for Apollo is the powerful story of how one society came together to reach its goal -- a quarter of a million miles away.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a readable, colorful book that should be approached with caution. The authors put Grumman Corporation, prime contractor for the lunar module, in center stage. While contractors often get less credit than they deserve, the emphasis here results in an unbalanced view. The resolution of major issues generally was much more complex than the narrative suggests. One might infer from the text that a Grumman executive singlehandedly convinced the White House to implement the Space Station program. Finally, the authors have re-created some of the correspondence and dialogue, a technique which is not always successful. Which parts are historically accurate and which are not? In spite of dramatic writing, use of historically significant material, and a number of interesting illustrations, this, by its nature, appears to be a rather subjective account. Roger E. Bilstein, History Dept., Univ. of HoustonClear Lake
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dr. Charles Pellegrino is the author of twelve books, including Unearthing Atlantis and Her Name, Titanic. He is a paleontologist who designs robotic space probes and relativistic rockets. In his spare time, Pellegrino writes mindbending technothrillers. Jan de Bont, the director of Speed and Twister, has recently signed on to direct the film adaptation of Pellegrino's Dust. Dr. Pellegrino lives in New York. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (November 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689115598
• ISBN-13: 978-0689115592
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,742,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete, but still worthwhile, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon (Paperback)

I saw this book listed after seaching for more books about the Apollo program. I have read Andrew Chaikin's book, and a book called "Angle of Attack." The excellent Apollo 13 movie and the Hanks series on HBO also whetted my interest. Although the astronaut stories are fascinating, and worthwhile, the astronauts were the tip of the iceberg. I wanted to read about the engineering aspects of the program. This book is not what I hoped it would be. The book is mostly about the Lunar Module. There is little discussion about the Command Module or the Service Module. There is no discussion of the Saturn rocket, or how the launch systems were designed. Personally, I find the crawler as incredible machine onto itself. I would love to know how the program was able to come together in so few years. The book hints that government studies had occurred going back to the mid-1950's discussing the feasibility of going to the moon. Thus, Kennedy's decision was not so rash as one may be led to believe by popular accounts. This book hints little at that subterfuge. Also, the book is incomplete in the discussion of Grumman's selection as the builder of the Apollo LM. There was an incredible rivalry between the large defense companies, and NASA, this is barely hinted at by the author. Overall, if you are interested in Apollo, this book is worth reading, but unfortunately, it only serves to make you want to write a book yourself on this subject because of the incompleteness, and your piqued curiosity, and your overwhelming desire to suddenly visit a certain landfill on Long Island with a shovel. However, this book also hints at the incredible frustration I feel with our country. We were probably never better as a civilization as we were during the Apollo years. we had greatness in our hands, and we let it slip through our hands. Our decision, as a nation, to cut the last few missions seems like pure folly today. I believe the author effectively conveys the melancholy of the Apollo engineers and scientists. He makes a good point in showing that the program did benefit everyone (Walter Mondale looks like more of a jerk every time I see his name! ). I seriously doubt we could assemble such a mission today. Perhaps the lunar mission of Apollo is our American Pyramids that will cause future generations to wonder how we did it, and to ask, inevitably, why we stopped. Read the book, feel sad and dissatisfied, seek more answers.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, not bad at all..., February 11, 2000

By 

Jim Kirk (Boston MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon (Paperback)

Overall, this was a worthwhile read. As others have noted, the cover is misleading. This book is a detailed chronicle of the manufacture of the Lunar Module, and not a general history of the Apollo program. In fact, given the number of general apollo histories available, I think it would have sold better had it been more aptly titled. Although a tad melodramatic, the authors weave a cohesive narrative and truly convey the enormous complexity of designing and building the LM. It was nice to read a book that was not just about the astronauts but instead about those who actually put them into space. I would reccommend this book for serious space enthusiasts and not the casual reader. The best chapter is the last one, dealing with the end of the LM program and the fate of the lunar modules, both those that went to the moon and those that stayed on the earth.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating for Apollo addicts who want to dig deeper., October 18, 1999

By 

Ryan Ferguson (Sanford, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon (Paperback)

Great book! There are many, many "Space Race" books out there with basically the same tale to tell. This is the book to read when you want to dig deeper. Detailed info, funny anecdotes, and incredibly interesting stories of the design and construction of the LM. I for am pleased that Pellegrino/Stoff chose to focus on one aspect of this often-told story, and tell it very well indeed. I will definitely be re-reading this one.