NASA Apollo 11: An Insight into the Hardware from the First Manned Mission to Land on the Moon [Hardcover]

Christopher Riley (Author), Philip Dolling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

On July 20, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. The Apollo 11 mission that carried him and his two fellow astronauts on their epic journey marked the successful culmination of a quest that, ironically, had begun in Nazi Germany thirty years before. This is the story of the Apollo 11 mission and the ‘space hardware’ that made it all possible. Author Chris Riley looks at the evolution and design of the mighty Saturn V rocket, the Command and Service Modules, and the Lunar Module. He also describes the space suits worn by the crew, with their special life support systems. Launch procedures are described, ‘flying’ the Saturn V, navigation, course correction ‘burns’, orbital rendezvous techniques, flying the LEM, moon landing, moon walk, take-off from the moon, and earth re-entry procedure. Includes performance data, fuels, biographies of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, Gene Kranz and Werner von Braun. Detailed appendices cover all of the Apollo missions, with full details of crews, spacecraft names and logos, mission priorities, moon landing sites, and the Lunar Rover.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

On July 20, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. This is the story of the Apollo 11 mission and the ‘space hardware’ that made it all possible. From the evolution and design of the Saturn V rocket, the Command, Service Modules, and the Lunar Module are described. Launch procedures are described, ‘flying’ the Saturn V, navigation, course correction ‘burns’, orbital rendezvous techniques, flying the LEM, moon landing, moon walk, take-off from the moon, and earth re-entry procedure. Includes performance data, fuels, biographies of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, Gene Kranz and Werner von Braun. Detailed appendices cover all of the Apollo missions, with full details of crews, spacecraft names and logos, mission priorities, moon landing sites, and the Lunar Rover.

About the Author

Dr Christopher Riley is a broadcaster and film-maker specializing in history and science documentaries. In 2004 he won the Sir Arthur Clarke award for the BBC1 blockbuster series Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets. His latest film In the Shadow of the Moon: The Story of the Apollo Astronauts, won the World Cinema Audience Award in 2007.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844256839
• ISBN-13: 978-1844256839
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Aeronautics & Astronautics
  • #50 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Astrophysics & Space Science
  • #73 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Aviation

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It could have been so much more..., March 17, 2010

By 

Michael D. Fisher (People's Democratic Republic Of Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NASA Apollo 11: An Insight into the Hardware from the First Manned Mission to Land on the Moon (Hardcover)

After the seemingly endless delays, I finally got this book. And was immediately disappointed. As an 'Apollo Junkie(tm)' I expected what the title promised - an owners' workshop manual. No, I didn't expect a set of blueprints and plans, but I DID expect a more detailed look at the hardware. Everything in this book is a rehash of hundreds of previous Apollo books. I found no serious discussions about engineering, dimensions, etc.

I'm STILL searching for a book with a good, solid set of dimensions on the LM. Maybe tomorrow.

However, as a standalone book about Apollo, this was a good one. I'll give it three stars for that.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great Apollo reference, November 30, 2009

By 

Evil Genius (Pilesgrove, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: NASA Apollo 11: An Insight into the Hardware from the First Manned Mission to Land on the Moon (Hardcover)

I got my manual and found it very impressive. The pictures are great and it looks at the whole mission, the hardware, and spacecraft. The detailed drawings are detailed but a little blurry at times. They could have used a little digital enhancement, not a turn off for me. Since the original drawings were done by hand they are true depictions of what was available at the time. I have looked at the book casually the last few days and like it a lot. I went to Johnson space center and saw the Saturn V and now know a lot more about what it was that I saw. Neat book, I recommend it. Not overly engineered but not dumbed down either. It's Technician level. It is not a personal narrative but a look at the engineering and design needed to achieve the goal. I recommend this, I liked it, and will put it into my personal collection on "The Shelf".
If you would like to see historical technical drawings go to [...]

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars, no question, December 21, 2009

By 

S. Kosloske (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NASA Apollo 11: An Insight into the Hardware from the First Manned Mission to Land on the Moon (Hardcover)

I think this is *THE* book to have if you want the history and technology of the Apollo Space Program. It really does cover it all, from the sci-fi drawings of how a possible space mission would work, to the early planning, all of the versions of the Apollo rockets and missions, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Very well done. You get a ton of diagrams showing how it all fit together, the limits of the technology at the time, and how they amazingly got it all working perfectly.

Worth the price for the pictures of the consoles alone.