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Author
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Topic: Favorite lesser-known spaceflight book
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CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 03-09-2022 04:11 PM
   
I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations to give, for a lesser-known, favorite spaceflight book in their collection? One that some of us out here may never have heard of before, but is worth a read! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-09-2022 04:17 PM
I suppose it depends that you mean by "lesser known." To recommend a book as a "lesser known" space book might be seen as "damning by faint praise." |
CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 03-09-2022 04:31 PM
As with many movies and albums, not all do receive the praise or publicity they deserve and need others to recommend to a friend.Reading one of Francis French's older blog posts, he mentions what I considered to my own knowledge, a lesser known book, "Teacher In Space" that he had very high praise for! No disrespect intended for any book named within this thread potentially.  |
randy
Member Posts: 2568
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-09-2022 04:51 PM
"Don Lind: Mormon Astronaut." |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-09-2022 05:04 PM
OK, fair enough. Personally, I highly value the following (in no particular order): - "To a Rocky Moon" by Don Wilhelms;
- "Exploring the Moon" by David Harland; and
- "How Apollo Flew to the Moon" by David Woods.
Wilhelms, a geologist, was involved in the study of the Moon, the selection of landing-sites and the training of the astronauts. If you have any interest in the actual scientific study of the Moon before and during the time of Apollo, this book is surprisingly approachable and readable by non-scientists (although you should note that much knowledge has accumulated since the book was published in 1993, so it is perhaps wise to enjoy the story of how the Moon was explored but to read any geological conclusions in the context of up-to-date findings about the Moon). My hardback copy is a treasured possession, but a paperback edition is also available.The Harland book also deals with the geology of the Moon, concentrating on the three final "J" missions. Each landing mission is discussed, but Apollos 15, 16 and 17 are assessed in great detail. You probably need to be interested in the science of Apollo to get the best out of this book, but if you want to know how those three crews put the Moon under the microscope, this is a great book. The Woods book is probably the best single-volume explanation of how (as the name implies) an Apollo mission actually flew to the Moon, orbited, landed, worked, and returned. Each stage of the journey, from pre-launch to post-splashdown, is covered in detail, with examples from actual missions. For instance, if you look up "the LM landing radar" you will learn what it was supposed to do; and you will hear about the 1201 and 1202 problems on Apollo 11, the failure to lock-on on Apollo 14, and much more. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2125
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 03-09-2022 06:19 PM
A much older book for sure (1955), but one that is chock-full of amazing people such as John Paul Stapp, David Simons, Homer Boushey and Pete Everest and their heroic deeds in the lead-up to human space flight is "Men, Rockets and Space Rats" by Lloyd Mallan. It is an amazing book that I have treasured and re-read over many years. Possibly hard to find now, but well worth the effort. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1066
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 03-09-2022 07:14 PM
I have always found "The Voyages of Apollo: The Exploration of the Moon" by Richard S. Lewis to be unusually well-written. Since it was published in 1974, it is a bit dated when discussing lunar origin theory.I also second the first book in Geoffrey's posting, "To A Rocky Moon" is just an absolutely incredible read. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 712
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 03-09-2022 09:29 PM
"Before Lift-off: The Making of a Space Shuttle Crew" by Henry S.F. Cooper. |
CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 03-10-2022 09:18 AM
I appreciate the recommendations being made by everyone, and the detail that Geoffrey put into each title on his list."Men, Rockets, and Space Rats" - I find that some older books can be as, if not more, enjoyable of a read than newer releases, as they take you back to that time. Thanks for this recommendation Colin. |
Grounded!
Member Posts: 494
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 03-10-2022 03:44 PM
"The Missilemen" by Mel Hunter was published in 1960 just prior to the Mercury program is a personal favorite. Heavily illustrated with photographs, mostly taken by the author, it shows these earlier rocket guys at work and play, as well as activities in and around Cocoa Beach at the time. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 772
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 03-10-2022 07:23 PM
Two that I am happy to recommend are "Moon Dust" by Andrew Smith and "Leaving Orbit" by Margaret Lazarus Dean. |
Kevmac
Member Posts: 299
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 03-10-2022 07:49 PM
A book that doesn't show up on many favorite astronaut biography lists is Frank Borman's Countdown from 1988. A great history of challenges faced in his life and how he overcame them, leadership challenges, and the tremendous responsibilities placed upon him during his time as an astronaut. It gave me a much greater appreciation of the type of man he is. A great partner book is the recently published Far Side of the Moon that captures the story of his life-long relationship and marriage to his wife. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48228
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-10-2022 08:13 PM
One of my favorite books is "The Light Stuff: Space Humor — From Sputnik to Shuttle" by Bob Ward. It is a collection of short, mostly humorous anecdotes from every era of the space program. Some of the stories can be found in other books, but there are a good many that I haven't seen in print elsewhere, even to this day (the book was published in 1982). |
Kevmac
Member Posts: 299
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 03-11-2022 12:09 AM
That was an excellent book. I just found it on my bookshelf next to the 1969 version called "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon" compiled by Bob Ward. Another classic book of space humor I read many times growing up. The pages are wrinkled because I used to read it while taking a bath.
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Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-11-2022 06:53 AM
One of the great things about books (and indeed other audio-visual material) from before Apollo 11 is that they include details from earlier missions which then got "left out" of later books and documentaries to make way for the enormous volume of material from Apollo 11 onwards.The Time-Life set of LP records ("To the Moon") illustrates this perfectly. There are numerous recordings from Mercury, Gemini and the early Apollo missions which just aren't found in post-Apollo material. One of the better illustrated books rushed out after Apollo 11, "Footprints on the Moon" by "the writers and editors of the Associated Press" is another of my treasured collection. It was sent to me by an elderly American family friend around September, 1969, and provided my first detailed knowledge of the "space race" and its politics. As indicated above, it finishes with a summary of Apollo 11, but most of the book is about what went before. It taught the "younger me" a lot ! |
CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 03-11-2022 09:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Grounded!:
"The Missilemen" by Mel Hunter...
I recall hearing about a book that touched on the various hotels in Cocoa Beach at the time in detail, I believe it was from a thread on cS, however I can't seem to find it now. Are you or is anyone else aware, if "The Missilemen" is the book I'm thinking of or is there another book about the area and hotels, from that age? If "The Missilemen" was released prior to Mercury, I am assuming there is another book that is on my mind that I just can't think of the name... |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 84
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 03-11-2022 10:11 AM
The first space book I read was “Appointment on the Moon” by Richard Lewis who was mentioned previously. It must have been written in 1970 and covers up to Apollo 11. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1066
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 03-11-2022 11:22 AM
Actually, Appointment on the Moon was first published in 1968 and covered the space program up to Chapter 13 (Apollo 4). After Apollo 11, Lewis added about two chapters and a few pictures to include Apollos 5-11. That 545 page edition came out in July of 1969.Lewis always impressed me with his writing (I regularly read his space articles in the Chicago Sun-Times) and Appointment on the Moon is probably still one of the best contemporary books on the space program. I still have my paperback version. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1317
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 03-11-2022 01:56 PM
Space and the American Imagination, by Howard McCurdy. |
Grounded!
Member Posts: 494
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 03-11-2022 05:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CEKebalo:
I recall hearing about a book that touched on the various hotels...
"The Missilemen" just has a few hotel pictures (Satellite, Starlight and Polaris. In no way does the book go into any detail about them. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 760
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 03-16-2022 11:57 AM
Most people think that the Apollo 13 story was first told to the public in 1994 with the publishing of Jim Lovell's "Lost Moon" and the subsequent 1995 film "Apollo 13". But in 1972 - only months after the event - Henry S. F. Cooper published "Thirteen: The Apollo Flight That Failed". After first reading a library copy in the early 1980s I have always thought this book to be an exceptionally well written account (I own a paperback 1995 edition that I purchased in 2001). Like "Lost Moon" it primarily deals with the human saga of the crew after the explosion rather that the technical aspects of why the accident occurred. Definitely a page turner (even if you know the story) and a favorite 'lesser-known' spaceflight book of mine.I also would second "How Apollo Flew To The Moon" by W. David Woods and "To A Rocky Moon" by Don E. Wilhelms (which by the way is available online at the Lunar and Planetary Institute's website). |
AstroCasey
Member Posts: 68
From:
Registered: Feb 2019
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posted 03-21-2022 03:29 PM
Growing up, the first space book I ever read was "The World Book of Space Exploration: Space Travel." It was a Christmas gift from my dad.I also read "Thirteen: The Flight That Failed" by Henry S.F. Cooper Jr. Even though I read it in 10th grade, I remember thinking it was one of the best accounts of Apollo 13. Another lesser-known book I remember was "Wernher Von Braun: Rocket Engineer" by Helen B. Walters. The book was very informative, even though it was meant for younger readers. |
Andy Anderson
Member Posts: 108
From: Perth, Australia
Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 03-22-2022 12:09 AM
Since CE raised this topic, I have been arguing with myself about which books to include in such a list and no doubt, many have their own space specialties and therefore choices of publications.From my modest collection of space books, most of which I have enjoyed as good reads or are informative in one way or the other, I would add these as my favorite "lessor known" books grouped into categories – assuming that they qualify as lessor known. Here is a roughly stitched together image of my collection - reflective "Brodart" book covers don't help with photography!  - Anything from Praxis or from the Nebraska – Outward Odyssey series - brilliantly researched and written.
- Space History – "The History of Manned Spaceflight", Baker
- Pre Apollo – "Rockets, Missiles, & Space Travel", Ley
- Apollo Astronaut – after Mike Collins, "The All American Boys", Cunningham
- Apollo Non-Astronaut Autobiography/Biography – "The Astronaut Maker", Cassutt - but the one I have re-read the most is "Apollo EECOM", Liebergot
- Apollo Procedures – "How Apollo Flew to The Moon", Wood which is great for explaining the technical stuff but as also previously mentioned, Henry Cooper's story about Apollo 13 remains the best book entirely about the Apollo 13 flight. Published originally as "Annals of Exploration – An Accident in Space" in a two-part article in the New Yorker Magazine in 1972 when it was all fresh in the minds of those that took part. Then published as a hardback entitled "13: The Flight That Failed" then later again as paperback in 1975, entitled "Moonwreck". I can recall buying the paperback in an airport shop while waiting for a flight and finished it in one go
- Apollo Operations – "Apollo", Murray and Cox followed by "Chariots for Apollo", Pellegrino and Stoff
- Shuttle – "Space Shuttle", Jenkins
- Shuttle Astronaut – "Riding Rockets", Mullane
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CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 03-22-2022 09:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Andy Anderson:
Here is a roughly stitched together image of my collection...
An impressive collection you have there! |
p51
Member Posts: 1742
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 03-22-2022 10:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by sts205cdr:
"Before Lift-off: The Making of a Space Shuttle Crew" by Henry S.F. Cooper.
Good suggestion. I really liked that book, just stumbled across it and wasn't expecting much until I started reading. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-22-2022 01:07 PM
Andy, that is a most impressive collection - I'm particularly impressed to see some of your most recent acquisitions! |
Andy Anderson
Member Posts: 108
From: Perth, Australia
Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 03-22-2022 07:05 PM
Thank you very much for providing a great addition or is that "edition"... quote:
Originally posted by CEKebalo:
An impressive collection you have there!
Thanks — started collecting way back although there are lots I would love to have but the usual issue prevents that — apart from running out of shelf space. |
atlas5guy
Member Posts: 35
From:
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 04-19-2022 07:57 PM
Hunter's "The Missilemen" is indeed an underappreciated classic of the early space and missile age (and a feature title on my bookshelves). Another iconic title of the early space age is Martin Caidin's "Spaceport U.S.A." (Dutton, 1959). Not only was it a treasure trove of Cape stories, but it was also remarkably well-illustrated with vintage rocket photographs. A book titled "First Into Outer Space" by Theo. J. Gordon and Julian Scheer (St. Martin's, 1959) was a fascinating "insider" account of the first Pioneer moon probes. One of my favorite space books from my youth was William Shelton's "American Space Exploration The First Decade" (Little Brown, 1967). It covered both the early space satellite programs as well as the Mercury and Gemini flights. Shelton's clear and concise prose was a joy to read. These early space books helped to inform my younger self of Cape Canaveral history. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1066
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-21-2022 11:26 AM
Andy's reply jogged some of the old cobwebs loose in my mind.Back in the mid-60s, The Signet Science Library published some really great paperback books about space. Among Willy Ley's contributions, beside what Andy listed, there were: - Missile, Moonprobes, and Megaparsecs (1964)
- Ranger to the Moon (1965)
- Mariner IV to Mars (1966)
- Satellites, Rockets and Outer Space (1963)
- Rockets, Missiles, and Men In Space (1968)
The first three are still particularly good, from a "historical" perspective. |
CEKebalo
Member Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Registered: Jun 2021
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posted 04-21-2022 01:00 PM
Appreciate all of the responses and recommendations! I've been able to find copies of "The Light Stuff" and "The Voyages of Apollo", so far in my searches. |
burnsnz
Member Posts: 77
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-21-2022 05:25 PM
I would highly recommend "Chariots for Apollo." |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-21-2022 08:37 PM
Which one? Or both? |
burnsnz
Member Posts: 77
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-22-2022 03:15 PM
I did not realise there were two. I was meaning the one by Joshua Stoff and Charles Pellegrino. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3446
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-22-2022 08:03 PM
It's a great book. Highly recommended. (Chapter 32, although very short, is wonderful!).The other "Chariots for Apollo" is NASA publication SP-4205 (1979) which covers the whole history of Apollo up to the safe return of Apollo 11, and is well illustrated by B&W photos. It's one of the classic books in the NASA History series and deserves a place in any space enthusiast's bookshelves (ideally the hardback, but the softback is fine.) |
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