On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin emerged from the Apollo lunar module Eagle and made history by becoming the first humans to set foot on the surface of the Moon. Millions of people across the globe crowded around their televisions to witness this momentous accomplishment unfold in real time. Fifty years later, the Apollo 11 mission remains an extraordinary achievement in the history of space flight.
Located in the state that launched the Moon landing mission, the University Press of Florida is proud to specialize in high-quality books about space history and astronautics. Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 with our selection of books on the dynamic figures and technological advancements that have made space exploration possible. Highlights from the list below include an unprecedented photographic history that offers a wealth of unpublished and recently discovered images, a memoir that takes readers behind the scenes of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, and a look at the current efforts to fulfill the dream of traveling to Mars.
View all books in our space sale here and use code APOLLO for discount prices, valid through July 31, 2019.
Picturing Apollo 11: Rare Views and Undiscovered Moments
by J. L. Pickering and John Bisney
“Across 10 well-organized chapters, the selected images capture the country’s mounting excitement; the meticulous preparation of astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins; and finally the moon landing itself and the crew’s return to Earth. . . . The reader is left with an ample sense of the astronauts’ fame and, thanks to Pickering and Bisney’s wise selections, of their lasting accomplishment.”—Publishers Weekly
Through a wealth of unpublished and recently discovered images, this book presents new and rarely seen views of the people, places, and events involved in planning, accomplishing, and commemorating the first Moon landing. No other book has showcased as many never-before-seen photos connected with Apollo 11 or as many images covering the activities from the months before to the years after the mission.
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home
by Jack Clemons
“The details Clemons provides are what make the book so memorable. . . . The main story is economically and briskly told, bolstered by a thoughtful, helpful appendix, as well as a collection of direct questions (‘Did Apollo 10 Almost Crash into the Moon?’) and frank answers.”—Publishers Weekly
In this one-of-a-kind memoir, Jack Clemons—a former lead engineer in support of NASA—takes readers behind the scenes and into the inner workings of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs during their most exciting years. Discover the people, the events, and the risks involved in one of the most important parts of space missions: bringing the astronauts back home to Earth.
Willy Ley: Prophet of the Space Age
by Jared S. Buss
“A dynamic biography of a remarkable scientific figure. . . . Fans of scientific history and those just looking for a fascinating new read are in for a treat.”—Foreword Reviews
Willy Ley inspired young rocket scientists and would-be astronauts around the world to imagine a future of interplanetary travel long before space shuttles existed. This is the first biography of the science writer and rocketeer who predicted and boosted the rise of the Space Age.
The History of Human Space Flight
by Ted Spitzmiller
“A very competent, complete history of manned spacecraft. . . . A strongly recommended resource.”—Choice
Highlighting men and women across the globe who have dedicated themselves to pushing the limits of space exploration, this book surveys the programs, technological advancements, medical equipment, and automated systems that have made space travel possible.
The Final Mission: Preserving NASA’s Apollo Sites
by Lisa Westwood, Beth Laura O’Leary, and Milford Wayne Donaldson
The world will always remember Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin for their first steps on the moon, yet few today hold in respect the sites that made these and other astronauts’ journeys possible. Across the American landscape and on the lunar surface, many facilities and landing sites linked to the Apollo program remain unprotected. Some have already crumbled to ruins—silent and abandoned. The Final Mission explores these key locations, reframes the footprints and items left on the moon as cultural resources, and calls for the urgent preservation of this space heritage.
Mission Control: Inventing the Groundwork of Spaceflight
by Michael Peter Johnson
Brave astronauts, flaring rockets, and majestic launches are only one side of the story of spaceflight. Any mission to space depends on years—if not decades—of work by thousands of dedicated individuals on the ground. These are the people whose voices offer a friendly link to Earth in the void of space, whose hands maneuver rovers across the face of planets, and whose skills guide astronauts home. This book is a long-overdue history of three major centers that have managed important missions since the dawn of the space age.
Forever Young: A Life of Adventure in Air and Space
by John W. Young with James R. Hansen
He walked on the Moon. He flew six space missions in three different programs—more than any other human. He served with NASA for more than four decades. His peers called him the “astronaut’s astronaut.”
Enthusiasts of space exploration have long waited for John Young to tell the story of his two Gemini flights, his two Apollo missions, the first-ever Space Shuttle flight, and the first Spacelab mission. Forever Young delivers all that and more: Young’s personal journey from engineering graduate to fighter pilot, to test pilot, to astronaut, to high NASA official, to clear-headed predictor of the fate of Planet Earth.
Trailblazing Mars: NASA’s Next Giant Leap
by Pat Duggins
“Duggins gives you the how of the process along with the facts. Who knows what trails this book will help blaze. Read on.”—Bill Nye the Science Guy® and executive director of The Planetary Society
Travel to and from Mars has long been a staple of science fiction. And yet the hurdles—both technological and financial—have kept human exploration of the red planet from becoming a reality. Trailblazing Mars offers an inside look at the current efforts to fulfill this dream.
View all books in our space sale here and use code APOLLO for discount prices, valid through July 31, 2019.
The Florida Bookshelf 