NASA Book Chronicles Apollo Missions Through Astronaut Photos

NASA Book Chronicles Apollo Missions Through Astronaut Photos

May 18 WASHINGTON -- "Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts" is a new book produced by NASA and Abrams that provides a unique perspective of the historic program that took people to the moon nearly four decades ago. The publication chronicles Apollo missions 7 through 17 using photographs of the flights selected by each of the surviving Apollo astronauts. Between 1967 and 1972, 29 astronauts left Earth to explore the nearest celestial body, our moon. To celebrate that achievement, NASA and Abrams will publish "Apollo" in June, in advance of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. "Most Americans remember the Apollo astronauts as brave test pilots, engineers and scientists. However, one could argue that many of these explorers also were talented artists," said Bob Jacobs, acting assistant administrator for Public Affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They documented history while working in a very dangerous and hostile environment, and many of their images rival the beauty and historic significance of any picture captured by professional photographers." "Apollo" features a foreword by Stephen Hawking, bestselling author of "A Brief History of Time" and the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, England, and his daughter Lucy Hawking, a journalist and novelist. "Abrams is thrilled to collaborate with NASA on this book chronicling the Apollo lunar missions," said Eric Himmel, vice president and editor in chief of Abrams in New York. "It's especially rewarding to have the participation of the surviving Apollo astronauts, who, in addition to their other achievements, took some of the most extraordinary and influential photographs of our time." The book uses vivid photographs and detailed text to create a visually compelling and authoritatively written record of a landmark achievement in human history. "It will be interesting to see the different perspectives of my Apollo crewmates," said Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean. His photograph of fellow astronaut and mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad on the Ocean of Storms makes up the cover of the new publication. "We all shared a special experience, but how each individual reflects on that experience is, of course, different." Jacobs edited the book in collaboration with colleagues at NASA Headquarters in Washington: Michael Cabbage, director of News Services; Constance Moore, head photo researcher; and Bertram Ulrich, curator and multimedia manager. "We wanted to publish the best of the best of the Apollo photographs and give the astronauts an opportunity to share with us their memories and experiences of this historic achievement in exploration," Jacobs added. "We deeply appreciate their cooperation and dedication." "Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts" will be available in retail and online bookstores by early June.

For more information about NASA's Apollo program, including an interactive feature with select images from the book, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/apollo

The Apollo StoryIt all started on May 25, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of sending astronauts to the moon before the end of the decade. Coming just three weeks after Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space, Kennedy's bold challenge set the nation on a journey unlike any before in human history.

Eight years of hard work by thousands of Americans came to fruition on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar module and took "one small step" in the Sea of Tranquility, calling it "a giant leap for mankind."

Six of the missions -- Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 -- went on to land on the moon, studying soil mechanics, meteoroids, seismic, heat flow, lunar ranging, magnetic fields and solar wind. Apollos 7 and 9 tested spacecraft in Earth orbit; Apollo 10 orbited the moon as the dress rehearsal for the first landing. An oxygen tank explosion forced Apollo 13 to scrub its landing, but the "can-do" problem solving of the crew and mission control turned the mission into a "successful failure."

Apollo Program and NASA Souvenirs available from SPACEBOOSTERS

Text and Audio Versions of President Kennedy's Speech

The Apollo Program

View Key Apollo Source Documents
History of Human Space Flight
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project