Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon [Hardcover]

Andrew Chaikin (Author), Alan Bean (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

July 20, 1969, marked one of the climactic moments in our history?the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon. But it is only one piece of a magnificent story. Mission Control, This Is Apollo, by the acclaimed Andrew Chaikin (author of A Man on the Moon, basis of the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon), recounts space history from the Mercury missions through Apollo 17 and beyond. It is illustrated with stunning full-color paintings by astronaut Alan Bean, who walked on the moon with Pete Conrad on Apollo 12 and has devoted his post-NASA life to creating art. Handsome, informative, and dramatic, this is no textbook?it is the tale of humankind?s greatest adventure in the last frontier: space.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 5–8—Along with being based at least as much on personal interviews as on documentary and other sources, this album-sized history of the Apollo missions is also set apart by its unique illustrations. A former astronaut who walked on the Moon as part of the Apollo 12 crew, Bean has been for many years a full-time fine artist. He incorporates into moonscapes, spacecraft, and suited-up astronauts done over the course of his artistic career not only an unusually personal perspective, but also actual bits of moon dust, used mission patches, and other well-traveled memorabilia. He also provides illuminating, sometimes eloquent commentary in captions and a closing statement. Though the authors present an uncomplicated version of events with almost no discussion of the exclusion of women from the astronaut corps, for instance, and quoting Neil Armstrong's famous line as "one small step for a man" rather than what he actually said, they do tuck in memorable anecdotes (to the question "What's the most beautiful thing you saw in space?" an astronaut replies, "Urine dump at sunset"). They effectively highlight the Apollo program's magnificent achievements, as well as its moments of tension and tragedy. Supplemented with an admixture of photos and labeled diagrams, the large-scale art adds a dazzling visual element to this grand commemoration.—John Peters, New York Public Library
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* As we move away from the twentieth century, the shining moment of the first moon landing seems to grow brighter. Placing that event within the context of the whole Apollo program, this handsome, large-format book spotlights 12 significant missions, from Apollo 1, with its fatal cockpit fire, to Apollo 17, with its sweet success and bittersweet awareness that the program was ending. Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon (1994), has extensively researched the Apollo program and conducted hundreds of related interviews, including 28 with former Apollo astronauts. Beyond a wealth of pertinent anecdotes, this background knowledge brings a subtle understanding of complex decisions and human emotions at pivotal moments as well as a broad perspective as the Apollo missions moved gradually toward their goals. Informative, full-page sidebars focus on topics such as the work of the Mission Control teams and the early fear of “moon germs.” NASA photos provide excellent color illustrations of the Apollo missions. More unexpected and personal are the many stunning paintings and insightful captions by Alan Bean, who walked on the moon during the Apollo 12 mission. Lists of recommended books, films, and Internet sites are appended. A beautiful, insightful, and highly readable presentation of the Apollo missions. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670011568
• ISBN-13: 978-0670011568
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Astronomy & Space > Aeronautics & Space
  • #94 in Books > Children's Books > History > United States > 1900s

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chaikin and Bean Fantastic Team, June 17, 2009

By 

Marianne Dyson (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon (Hardcover)

Andrew Chaikin and Alan Bean are a powerful team for introducing the Apollo program to a new generation. Few authors can compete with Andrew Chaikin when it comes to telling the stories of Apollo, and Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean is the only artist who can paint the Moon with the passion of personal experience.

The Bean artwork and captions are sufficient to "promote" this book to coffee-table status, and the expertly-crafted text is also consistent with a book that any adult could happily browse and digest while waiting for an appointment in a swanky office.

My entire review is posted on the National Space Society (nss.org) Web site, but the bottom line is: Chaikin and Bean have created something that is more like a cherished family album or an artist's portfolio than a children's book. Space enthusiasts of all ages would do well to add this one to their personal collections.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the "real" story of the Apollo Missions, one that will WOW you from the first page to the last!, June 18, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon (Hardcover)

The Russians and the Americans were like two brothers, always trying to outdo the other and come in first. At times, in their race to space, the Russians would pull ahead, only to have the Americans hot on their heels. On April 12, 1961 "Americans once again felt the sting of being second best" when Yuri Gagarin orbited the earth via his spaceship, Vostok. Projects Mercury and Gemini set the stage for the success of Project Apollo, but there were lists of things that had to be accomplished and the real race was on.

Gus Grissom, one of three astronauts slated to be on the "first manned Apollo flight," Apollo One, was becoming more and more frustrated with the "communication problems" the project was having. "How are we going to get to the moon if we can't talk between two buildings?" He had a point there. This ill-fated mission never got off the ground when a disastrous fire on the launchpad took the lives of the crew in a horrifying manner. The next five missions were unpiloted and everyone was cautious. Even the Russians lost Vladimir Komarov. Were we really ready to tempt fate and head to the moon?

The race was now on in earnest. This book covers each manned Apollo mission in a vibrant, thrilling manner touching on history while including the viewpoints as many people involved in the project as possible. The emotional cast of the book ranges from heartbreak to humor to ecstasy. In the front of the book there is an illustration and overview of the Apollo spacecraft. Early on there is a two-page spread on both the Mercury and Gemini Missions outlining the crew, the duration of the flight and their achievements.

This book is absolutely marvelous! The stunning full color art work by former Apollo 12 lunar module pilot, Alan Bean, will blow you away. The writing quickly draws the reader in. Even the most reluctant reader will make it to the end. Dozens of people were interviewed for this book, including Apollo astronauts, flight directors, controllers and many other people who played a part in the Apollo Project. There are numerous photographs, fantastic sidebars, an index and additional recommended book and web site resources. This is one book you definitely won't be able to resist buying!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mission Control, this is Apollo, December 19, 2009

By 

Margaret A. Turnbull (Melville, West Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon (Hardcover)

I love this book. It is extremely well done, a bit different from the usual - it covers all Apollo flights from One to Seventeen. It is set out beautifully and the illustrations are superb. My grandson is going to be thrilled with this for Christmas.