Synopses & Reviews
As the United States and the Soviet Union went from exploring space to living in it, a space station was conceived as the logical successor to the Apollo moon program. But between conception and execution stood the vastness of space itself, to say nothing of the monumental technological challenges.
Homesteading Space, by two of Skylaband#8217;s own astronauts and a NASA journalist, tells the dramatic story of Americaand#8217;s first space station from beginning to fiery end.
Homesteading Space is much more than a story of technological and scientific success; it is also an absorbing, sometimes humorous, often inspiring account of the determined, hardworking individuals who shepherded the program through a near-disastrous launch, a heroic rescue, an exhausting study of Comet Kohoutek, and the lab's ultimate descent into the Indian Ocean. Featuring the unpublished in-flight diary of astronaut Alan Bean, the book is replete with the personal recollections and experiences of the Skylab crew and those who worked with them in training, during the mission, and in bringing them safely home.
Review
"[T]he authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spacecraft as both an intimate human experience and rollicking global adventure. . . . [T]heir book draws a richly detailed picture of the space race as an endeavor equally endowed with personal meaning and political significance."-QUEST
Review
"There's a wealth of information and insights about the people and missions in each chapter, at least for those who haven't immersed themselves in space history."-Jeff Foust, The Space Review.com(Jeff Foust, The Space Review.com, Sep 24 2007 )
Review
"Our lives and those of future generations were forever transformed by the events so vividly related in this book. These were the tense, often inspiring days of pioneering human space travel, and the authors are to be congratulated for their unerring portrayals of many larger-than-life personalities involved in that historic endeavor."-Cece Bibby, first woman to work at the Mercury launch pad (Cece Bibby, Aug 1 2006 )
Review
“[A] readable introduction to the first years of Americas leap into space.”—Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly
Review
"This book has everything you ever wanted to know about the astronauts that paved the way for the first Moon landing. Rarely does one get the entire information of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programmes, encased in one book, about the men who entered the dangerous and untried realm of flying off the Earth."—Jeff Green, Liftoff Michael Patrick Brady - PopMatters.com
Review
"[T]he authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spacecraft as both an intimate human experience and rollicking global adventure. . . . [T]heir book draws a richly detailed picture of the space race as an endeavor equally endowed with personal meaning and political significance."-QUEST(Quest)
Review
“French and Burgess present a first-rate, detailed, and very personal account of the space race to the moon . . . . Strongly recommended both as a study of the social interactions among this unique group of people and as a gripping series of anecdotes that describe the exciting, dangerous steps behind the successful moon landing.”—CHOICE W.E. Howard III
Review
“[A] readable introduction to the first years of Americas leap into space.”Publishers Weekly -- Ruth Spack - American Historical Review
Review
"Authors Burgess and French are even-handed and equitable, and have done an excellent job in covering a vast expanse of material. . . . The opportunity to get the true stories from the astronauts themselves is a luxury that will sadly not be available forever, and In the Shadow of the Moon has done an excellent job in gathering and eliciting the stories of these men, not just the 'official reports,' but the personal touches that render them more human. . . . The authors have a touch for weaving revealing and captivating personal narratives amidst the nuts-and-bolts space history."—Michael Patrick Brady, PopMatters.com CHOICE
Review
"A worthy account of an important but largely forgotten program. . . . For those who would like to learn more about the achievement, Homesteading Space offers valuable personal recollections from those who were there."and#8212;Roger Launius, Air and Space
Review
and#8220;A well-told saga of Skylab from start to fiery fall.and#8221;and#8212;Coalition for Space Exploration
Review
and#8220;Savvy consumers of space history have come to expect high quality in the and#8216;Outward Odysseyand#8212;A People's History of Spaceflightand#8217; series edited by Colin Burgess. This fourth volume definitely does not disappoint.and#8221;and#8212;Rick W. Sturdevant, Air Power History
Review
and#8220;Published here for the first time, [Alan] Beanand#8217;s diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave.and#8221;and#8212;Gilbert Taylor,
BooklistReview
"Homesteading Space is not just about the scientific knowledge that was obtained in orbitand#8212;this is the story of the astronauts who conducted the experiments, who lived in space for weeks or months at a time, and how they coped."and#8212;Andrew J. Liptak, Worlds in a Grain of Sand blog
Review
"The success of our nation's first space station did not come easily. The challenges were met with vision, courage, and competence. Those who personified these traits forcefully and honestly tell their stories here unfiltered by writers or press. The result is both historically significant and a great read."and#8212;Ed Gibson, Skylab III science pilot and author
Synopsis
In the Shadow of the Moon tells the story of the most exciting and challenging years in spaceflight, with two superpowers engaged in a titanic struggle to land one of their own people on the moon. While describing awe-inspiring technical achievements, the authors go beyond the missions and the competition of the space race to focus on the people who made it all possible. Their book explores the inspirations, ambitions, personalities, and experiences of the select few whose driving ambition was to fly to the moon.
Drawing on interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts, their families, technicians, and scientists, as well as rarely seen Soviet and American government documents, the authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spaceflight as both an intimate human experience and a rollicking global adventure. From the Gemini flights to the Soyuz space program to the earliest Apollo missions, including the legendary first moon landing, their book draws a richly detailed picture of the space race as an endeavor equally endowed with personal meaning and political significance.
Synopsis
In the Shadow of the Moon tells the story of the most exciting and challenging years in spaceflight, with two superpowers engaged in a titanic struggle to land one of their own people on the moon. Drawing on interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts, their families, technicians, and scientists, as well as rarely seen Soviet and American government documents, the authors craft a remarkable story of the golden age of spaceflight as both an intimate human experience and a rollicking global adventure. From the Gemini flights to the Soyuz space program to the earliest Apollo missions, including the legendary first moon landing, their book draws a richly detailed picture of the space race as an endeavor equally endowed with personal meaning and political significance.
About the Author
David Hitt is a journalist, writer, and editor for NASA Educational Technology Services. Owen Garriott is a former NASA astronautand#8212;and one of the first six scientist-astronauts selected in 1965. He was stationed on Skylab in 1973 and later flew STS-9, the first international Spacelab mission. A former NASA astronaut, Joe Kerwin is also one of the first scientist-astronauts selected in 1965 and flew on the first Skylab mission in 1973. Alan Bean is the former spacecraft commander of Skylab 3 and became the fourth man to walk on the moon in 1969. Homer Hickam is a former NASA engineer.