posted 02-13-2009 03:58 AM               

Here is the most up-to-date history of man in space, researched by a NASA insider from astronaut interviews, diaries and speeches, with many revelations appearing in print for the first time, and even including material from top secret documents from the former Soviet Union.

Astronauts shows space travel as its not been seen before and those who read it will be shocked at the reality of the dangers and failings of the space missions and full of admiration for the courage of those who travelled into space. There are surprises in these pages even to those who closely follow space exploration. Together, the diverse accounts reveal the astronauts' tales of courage and fear, and provide an authoritative and unique history of space exploration, from the missions of Laika, Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard and John Glenn, to Columbia, the International Space Station and SpaceShipOne, via the Vostok, Soyuz, Gemini and Apollo missions and the moon landings.

Packed with extraordinary facts and anecdotes, Astronauts includes the story of how Korolev managed to get a man with curvature of the spine, ulcers, gastritis and missing fingers to be selected as a cosmonaut, alongside an account of how soviet agents tried to stop the launch of Apollo 8. Here too are comments from a space shuttle commander highlighting the terror induced by a space shuttle launch, as well as the reasons NASA did not want Buzz Aldrin to be the first to step onto the lunar surface.

The CD includes: The Sputnik announcement; Yuri Gagarin speaking in orbit; The Alan Shepard launch; J. F. Kennedy's speech to Congress; Valentina Tereshkova speaking in orbit; Neil Armstrong stepping onto the lunar surface; Apollo 13: 'Houston. We've got a problem'.

About the Author

Dr David Whitehouse is an astronomer and NASA-insider, having worked there for many years. He knows and has worked with many astronauts.

• Hardcover: 208 pages
  
• Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc (August 6, 2009)
  
• ISBN-10: 1849160678
  
• ISBN-13: 978-1849160674

posted 02-13-2009 04:23 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by cspg:
PS. Soviet agents tried to stop the launch of Apollo 8?

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Russian Efforts To Mitigate Apollo 8's Impact
A Soviet Last Gasp-Stopping Apollo 8 Via Sabotage Threat

posted 02-14-2009 10:55 AM               

The thing about history in general, and 20th century history in particular, is that there are vast tracts of "terra incognita" that are still waiting to be found, and explored. Just because a person doesn't know about the new information, in no way invalidates the new information as a de facto, fiat comment.

Considering that the space race/moon race was conducted in the overall milieu of the Cold War, it should be a very logical conclusion that all the elements and rammifications of what the Cold War was is applicable. And also applicable to space exploration directly.

I am the person who wrote the article about the Russians attempting to stop Apollo 8 from lifting-off. My name is at the top of the whole article on John Pike's excellent website, and my e-mail is also there for people to use if they wish to engage in a dialogue with me on the topic (I am willing to do that via direct contact, and not here on this forum--meaning outside of this posting here.)

Yes, the subject of espinoage involved with the Apollo program may be surprising. Yes, it's dramatic. And yes, it's true.

What Paul's declaration (so stated in an information vacuum) tells me is that he didn't engage in the due diligence prior to him writing his declaration, and posting it here in this forum.

Want to know what are the materials that back-up the story of the Russians attempting to stop Apollo 8 from lifting off? I urge the collectSPACE readership to visit the globalsecurity.org article, and check out the references. The references will aid interested readers.

It's there.

And yes, there's actually more to this story (research is always on-going).

The subject of the circumlunar race is indeed one of current interest. There was an article published in Griffith Observer magazine (issued in the USA) in December 2008 authored by me that provides even more new details about this aspect of Cold War. Some of the new details include the recollections of some of those who worked at Sinop, Turkey during the time frame in question, and had a "front pew view" on the entire competition as it contemporaneously happened.

You can get that article either via your local University/public library, or you can contact Griffith Observer magazine directly to obtain a copy.

I will provide this small end editorial here about those who post opinions without making them informed opinions. It is unconscionable to doubt something prior to doing one's own spadework first. I am not against skepticism, but it has to be informed skepticism.

posted 02-14-2009 11:29 AM               

Your references are to secondary sources, such as the Associated Press and Chicago Times, which are fine for supposition and can inspire further research but cannot be used to make definitive statements.

Based on your article, I believe you feel the same.

So to come here and start criticizing others for being skeptical, and then refuse to publicly defend/discuss your own position, seems to be counterproductive.

That said, returning to the topic of this thread -- David Whitehouse's book -- it may be that the publicist who wrote the promo copy was a bit sensationalistic in his/her approach, which would not be uncommon given the purpose of the text (i.e. to sell books).

To use another example, "...the reasons NASA did not want Buzz Aldrin to be the first to step onto the lunar surface", NASA held no such reasons. Individuals may have had an opinion, but NASA, as an agency, had no policy -- official or otherwise -- against Aldrin.

posted 02-14-2009 03:44 PM               

The event is real, it happened.

Using news reportage in no way detracts from the factuality. I find it quite puzzling that anyone would attempt to say that usage of first-person reportage (even by those that are using the materials secondly) detracts from the factuality of an event.

And I also stand on the idea that informed opinion is always preferred to uninformed opinion. Anyone can say anthing that they want. (The internet encourages that.) But the opinion that has staying power, and that has gravitas, that's only informed opinion.

But an informed opinion requires research and spadework.

Which was done in this case. (And more has been done since.)

I encourage you Robert, or anyone else, to disprove that the event happened, if you so feel that this event has not taken place, is fiction, or a delusion.

You'll have a most difficult time attempting to do so.

I won't respond further about this topic on this forum.

You want to contact me directly for further dialogue, that is encouraged.

posted 02-14-2009 03:57 PM               

But I wouldn't say that it did happen just because the Associated Press and Chicago Times says it did. Not that I am discouraging those two organizations -- they are, without argument, reputable -- but they shouldn't be the only source available when discussing history, especially when in this case, they are describing a document that is independent to their own reporting (as opposed to an original interview they conducted, for example).

In other words, show me the letter.

posted 02-14-2009 11:49 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by TheJournalist:

But an informed opinion requires research and spadework.

Which was done in this case. (And more has been done since.)

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I was just forwarding information about a book that may be of interest to members of this forum, that's all. As to my remark, it was more aimed at pinpointing the apparent sensationalism put forward by the publisher.

On a general note, with all due respect Mr "TheJournalist", I hope that the tone of your post is a random event and that you do not treat people who are not as knowledgeable as you in the same manner you've just did. My email is available to anyone who wishes to get in touch with me; there's no need to post inflammatory comments for everyone to read.

That being said, and because I've got other things to do, I'll join you with your remark (which says a lot, by the way):

quote:

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Originally posted by TheJournalist:
I won't respond further about this topic on this forum.

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posted 02-15-2009 01:36 AM               

For "TheJournalist" (Peter Pesavento) to react with:

"I find it difficult to embrace the notion that at least one poster on this thread doesn't believe that there could be events and elements about the space race/moon race that they are not aware of. There is so much more to the subject of the 20th century space exploration chronology than just the "World Book Encylcopedia" or NASA official histories or any other books already published previously tell about it."

and

"What Paul's declaration (so stated in an information vacuum) tells me is that he didn't engage in the due diligence prior to him writing his declaration, and posting it here in this forum."

makes him sound both frantically defensive and insulting. I don't know Paul, but I'll warrant that he is not a lazy sap who refuses to read anything besides the World Book Encyclopedia or official NASA histories. He, like everyone who wants to learn about the space program, relishes new books and articles based on solid reporting.

Pesavento, by coming across as you did, you squandered the opportunity to present your story to an interested, well-informed audience.

posted 02-15-2009 05:34 AM               

I think this modestly-named "THE Journalist" has just won the "defensive post of the year" award for deliberately misinterpreting as an attack on his "journalism" an honest post which expressed no opinion either way.

Journalist - we note you have not made your private email address accessible (usually the way when people want to attack someone else with impunity). If you want to live up to your profession don't launch cowardly attacks on other people.

You've just lost yourself a stack of readers from the premier space collectors' website.