Synopses & Reviews
From the competitive spirit ignited by Sputnik to the tragedies and triumphs of the Apollo missions, from the technological leap forward created by the Space Shuttle to the global cooperation forged by the International Space Station and beyond, NPR examines the inspirational story of modern space exploration and the extraordinary individuals who made it possible. Featuring in-depth profiles of landmark missions, along with interviews and commentary from voices that have lived the dream, including astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Bernard Harris, Sally Ride, and many more.
Review
“Anyone interested in both history and the space program will enjoy this collection of news reports, interviews, and recollections. . . . [Palcas] voice is friendly, accessible, and informative, and he paces himself so that we can follow his reports.”
—AudioFile
Review
“These informative accounts display excellent journalism and will be deeply appealing to listeners who are even slightly interested in the topic.”
—Library Journal
Synopsis
NPR takes listeners to the moon, the stars, and beyond in this collection that explores human achievements in space.
About the Author
Internationally acclaimed, NPR produces and distributes programming that reaches a combined audience of 26.4 million listeners weekly, and, unlike other media, NPRs audience continues to grow. NPR member organizations operate 784 stations, and another 117 public radio stations also present NPR programs, for a total of more than 900 stations nationwide who broadcast NPR programming.
JOE PALCA is Science Correspondent for NPR and backup host for Talk of the Nation: Science Friday.
Table of Contents
Contents:
- Introduction by Joe Palca
- So You Want to Be an Astronaut
- A History of Manned Space Travel
- Sputnik, Space Race Mirror a Personal Journey
- Legacy of Space Race on U.S. Education
- Space Race Permeated Pop Culture
- Khrushchev, Schorr Look Back on Sputnik
- Sputnik in Space and Song
- Explorer I, Americas Answer to Sputnik
- John Glenn, a Hero Well Before Orbiting Earth
- John Glenn on 50 Years Since His First Orbit
- The Mercury 13: Training U.S. Women for Space
- NASAs Longest Serving Astronaut Retires
- Apollo 8 Moon Mission Still Awes
- Early Days of NASA
- Reflections on the Apollo I Disaster
- Apollo 11 Moon Landing
- Houston, We Erased the Apollo 11 Tapes
- Apollo 15: The First Space Walk
- Apollo 17 Lands on the Moon
- Mr. Rogers and Apollo 15
- One Small Towns Big Role in the Apollo Missions
- A Small Step to the Moon, Giant Leap to Mars
- Introducing the Space Shuttle
- The First Space Shuttle Lifts Off
- For Bernard Harris, More than “One Small Step for Man”
- Challenger Disaster
- Eileen Collins, Shuttle Commander, Inspires
- Woman Astronaut Sally Ride
- Columbia Disaster
- Shuttle Legacy: Grand, Though Not What Was Planned
- Curiosity Is on Mars, Now What?
- Aboard the Space Station, Its a Beautiful World
- Last Hubble Repair Mission
- Space Stations Best Days Are Still Ahead
- Vacation in Space? Possible . . . For the Rich
- Virtual Space Elevator