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Author
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Topic: Mission Control, This is Apollo (Chaikin, Bean)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-05-2009 06:14 PM
   
Andrew Chaikin, author of "A Man on the Moon" and the recently-released "A Passion for Mars", together with his wife Victoria Kohl, has teamed with Apollo 12 moonwalker and artist Alan Bean to share the story of the first lunar landings.Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon
by Andrew Chaikin with illustration by Alan Bean This 128-page, full color hardcover book devotes a chapter to each mission, Apollo 1 through Apollo 17, with an introduction about Mercury and Gemini and an afterword about the future of space exploration. Sidebars in each chapter answer a specific questions about the lunar missions, from what the astronauts ate to what became of the moon rocks they collected. Alan Bean's Apollo paintings — over 30 of them — are featured in the book, many full page, accompanied by his own descriptions, as well as a section where he discusses why and how he does his work. Complementing his art are NASA photographs and diagrams. According to the publisher, there are book signings planned, although the details are not yet available. This is the second collaboration between Chaikin and Bean, who previously worked together on "Apollo: An Eyewitness Account" in 1998. While written for children ages 10 through 12, "Mission Control, This is Apollo" should appeal to space enthusiasts of all ages. - Hardcover: 128 pages
- Viking Books for Young Readers (May 28, 2009)
- ISBN-10: 0670011568
- ISBN-13: 978-0670011568
 
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-05-2009 11:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
While written for children ages 10 through 12, "Mission Control, This is Apollo" should appeal to space enthusiasts of all ages.
Because of the target age audience, I didn't post it. Good to know it should appeal to all ages! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-05-2009 11:50 PM
I've been reading a draft this last month and I agree - this is a great book for any age. Chaikin concisely captures the key moments very nicely, and Bean's paintings of course bring a wonderfully artistic element. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-06-2009 11:04 AM
Appeal to all ages... reminds me of the weekly "Tintin" or "Kuifje" which appealed to children between 7 and 77 years young.  |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-06-2009 02:22 PM
Well, I'm also closer to middle age (sigh) than to this book's "target" audience, but I'd buy it just for the illustrations. Chaikin's always-informative and never-dull prose is a great bonus. |
Dave Clow
Member Posts: 236
From: South Pasadena, CA 91030
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 01-08-2009 12:51 PM
I see the chapter heading, "APOLLO TWELVE," and I assume the rest of them are spelled out in all caps too. This complicates the debate about Roman v. Arabic numerals in the Apollo program mission names! |
xlsteve
Member Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 01-08-2009 03:47 PM
My wife teaches 7th grade science, so we'll be getting two copies - one for me and one for the classroom. I'm doing a presentation to her class later this month on the space program, and I was planning on showing some of Alan Bean's paintings as part of it. Unfortunately by the time this book comes out they'll only have a month left of school. I'll just have to bring in my Apollo book. |
Apollo Redux
Member Posts: 346
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 01-09-2009 02:00 AM
I've got shelf space just begging to be filled. |
Apollo11
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-09-2009 02:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Clow:
This complicates the debate about Roman v. Arabic numerals in the Apollo program mission names!
If you go by the mission patches:Apollo 7 is Roman
Apollo 8 is Arabic
Apollo 9 is Roman
Apollo 10 is Roman
Apollo 11 is Arabic
Apollo 12 is Roman
Apollo 13 is Roman
Apollo 14 is Arabic
Apollo 15 is Arabic
Apollo 16 is Arabic
Apollo 17 is Roman So 6 Roman to 5 Arabic. If you count the patch from Apollo 1 (Arabic) it is 6 to 6. If you go by press kits, they all (7-17) use Arabic numerals. The same is true for Mission Reports. So, who knows? |
Dave Clow
Member Posts: 236
From: South Pasadena, CA 91030
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 01-09-2009 05:40 PM
I seem to remember Jim McDivitt having an opinion on this. As I recall he felt that Gemini missions were properly designated by Roman numerals and Apollo by Arabic. Now that the question of who photographed "Earthrise" is settled, more or less, we need new material. |
Apollo11
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-09-2009 07:16 PM
The press kits for Gemini 3, Gemini 4,Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 7/6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9-A, Gemini 10, Gemini 11, and Gemini 12 each use Arabic numerals.The Gemini mission patches use Arabic numerals for flights 3-6 and Roman numerals for flights 7-12. However, I seem to recall that the patches for the first two flights were unofficial, with the first "official" patch coming with Gemini 5. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-23-2009 10:53 AM
According to Amazon UK, Mission Control: This is Apollo is in stock now. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-19-2009 01:33 PM
Congrats Andrew, this book is far the best on Al Bean's work... and the only must-have in my opinion! |
jvertrees
Member Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-19-2009 06:01 PM
I have problems calling this book a children’s book. Although the information is basic, it is laid out very intelligently and can only spark an interest in space in someone unfamiliar with the subject while reminding those who do know the subject just how impression the missions where and remain. Andrew Chaikin did an outstanding job of honing down a massive amount of information into a thin volume while making it still seem complete. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 08-23-2009 03:02 PM
The best picture in the book - by far< - is on the back cover's flap: a photo of 12-year-old Andy Chaikin with Alan Bean in April 1969. Can you imagine what Andy must feel when looking at that photo? What would that young boy have thought if you told him that he and Captain Bean would write books together someday?Congratulations to both men for another outstanding book. I just got my signed copy from Novaspace this week. Now I have to go out and buy another copy that I can READ!! |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 08-23-2009 04:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ilbasso:
What would that young boy have thought if you told him that he and Captain Bean would write books together someday?
Knowing Andy for more than 25 years now, it would be no shocker to that 12-year old. Andy knew his destiny before that. He has Aviation Weeks and other publications from the mid-1960s in his collection... everything about space and the space program that served as a basis for "A Man on the Moon."Over his formative years, he made all the right friends, and not in a shy way. He majored in geology at Brown, and got in on the early Mariner explorations to Mars, interned at the National Air and Space Museum, all while looking like a prescient 15 year old, when in fact he was older and knew exactly what he wanted. What a guy! |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 08-23-2009 11:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Spacefest:
...all while looking like a prescient 15 year old, when in fact he was older and knew exactly what he wanted. What a guy!
And he does the best Carl Sagan impression I've ever seen! |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-24-2009 05:35 AM
But on that photo you don't see Jim Irwin who was standing to the left... the complete photo is shown in Andrew's "A Passion for Mars" book. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 08-24-2009 01:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
And he does the best Carl Sagan impression I've ever seen!
Actually he's quite a gifted impressionist. Not only a drop-dead Sagan, but also Bean, Pete Conrad, Charlie Duke. Jacques Cousteau, Farouk el-Baz(!)His advice while coaching a colleague on Sagan: "Speak like you're giving BIRTH to each WORD." |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 08-25-2009 12:31 AM
Well, then if this writing books gig doesn't pan out, at least we know he has another career to fall back on.  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 08-25-2009 11:32 AM
Does anyone know if Andy has ever been invited to any of the autograph shows? |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-25-2009 11:56 AM
He was at Spacefest this year, which included a book signing session. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 08-25-2009 01:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
Well, then if this writing books gig doesn't pan out, at least we know he has another career to fall back on.
Andy and actor Kevin Pollak were cut-ups on the set of From the Earth to the Moon. Kevin does a great Christopher Walken (see YouTube) and played NASA manager Joe Shea in the miniseries.Andy is also a talented musician (his older brother is a recording engineeer) and not a half-bad artist. A real Renaissance Man. |
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