Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration) (Paperback)

~ (Author), David M. Harland (Author)
Key Phrases: total inertial acceleration, maneuver cutoff, maneuver ignition, Event Velocity, Atlantic Ocean, Event Geocentric (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"This book, being a source book, sets out the facts of the Apollo program. … At the end of each chapter, text provides conclusions and objectives that demonstrate the value added. As well, chapters finish with a brief selection of relevant black and white photographs. From these, the reader has an excellent ready referral to each of the Apollo missions. … This book is ideal for readers who want a ready reference on the events and timelines of the Apollo missions." (Mark Mortimer, www.universetoday.com, January, 2007)

"This massive 663-page book is an invaluable record of the exact times of all the significant events in the Apollo programme … . A unique feature is that the specific objectives for each flight are carefully listed, with a record of whether or not each was achieved. … historians will get value for money." (Reglnald Turnhill, Astronomy Now, January, 2007)

"Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook is designed to provide a comprehensive reference for facts about Apollo. … the authors turned to original documents, some of which were previously unavailable to the public. This book provides a complete overview of the entire Apollo program including its origins, a detailed narrative about individual missions, tables listing facts and figures for each mission, and a comprehensive statistical reference of the program." (Quest, Vol. 13 (3), 2006)

"A sort of trainspotter’s guide to the Apollo missions, this very useful book brings together extensive facts and figures for each mission … . This truly is the best reference work on Apollo that’s been published to date, and no library of books on Apollo can be complete without this book. It is unreservedly recommended!" (David Maclennan, Liftoff, Issue 238, 2007)

Product Description

On 25 May 1961, John F Kennedy announced the goal of landing an American man on the Moon by the end of the decade. This challenge forced NASA to review the planned lunar landing of a three-man spaceship named Apollo in the mid-1970s. In 1962, it was decided that a specialized vehicle would accompany the main spacecraft, to make the lunar landing while the mothership remained in lunar orbit. To send these vehicles to the Moon would require the development of an enormous rocket. Development was protracted, but in December 1968 Apollo 8 was launched on a pioneering mission to perform an initial reconnaissance in lunar orbit. When Apollo 17 lifted off from the Moon in December 1972, the program was concluded. Now, at long last, there is a real prospect of a resumption of human exploration of the Moon.

This book provides an overview of the origins of the Apollo program and descriptions of the ground facilities, launch vehicles and spacecraft that will serve as an invaluable single-volume sourcebook for space enthusiasts, space historians, journalists, and programme-makers on radio and TV. It supplements tha other books that have focused on the politics and management of the Apollo program, the astronauts, and their training and exploits.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 633 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (April 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387300430
• ISBN-13: 978-0387300436
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #517,725 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Summary of Project Apollo, April 11, 2006

By	Laurenc SVITOK (Bratislava Slovakia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Excellent material covering all both unmanned and manned Apollo lunar programm flights. This is definitely not a technical stuff, this is factographical and chronological history of each of the Apollo missions from preparations to recoveries mapping all flight events in detail. Equiped with high quality b&w photos and a lot of tables covering - sometimes rather exotic - things like astronaut personal weights before and after the flight, rocket fuel consumptions and many others this book is a valuable source of Apollo missions facts. Highly recommended to all who want to have all basic flight informations in one place.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference guide of all Apollo test and lunar mission facts, January 24, 2009

By	John Santucci "Apollo collector" (Tucson, AZ. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book to be very interesting in the way the authors broke down every aspect of the Apollo tests to the final lunar mission. The exact mission assembly and actual mission timelines are quite interesting to read.The year by year costs. The breakdown of mission status, accomplished tasks and cross section of landing geology is good. Illustrated with decent quality black and white photo's. Lots of neat facts if you are interested in the lunar missions. The price is steep..I bought a used copy. I am glad I did as it was a welcome addition to my extensive Apollo library.