Live from Cape Canaveral: Covering the Space Race, from Sputnik to Today

I thoroughly enjoyed this book -- it was so good, I stayed up half the night because I simply could not put it down. The author, Jay Barbree, is the only journalist who has been at every single US space launch from the beginning to the present. He also knows a great deal about what went on behind the scenes (including at lot of practial jokes and hijinks among the astronauts and staff. Hey, it's a high stress job, they all needed some humor!) One thing that will be clear as you read is this: If the US government had not dragged it's feet and considered space to be a low priority, we might have launched the first satellite instead of the Russians getting there first with Sputnik. (Werner von Braun actually had a U.S. rocket ready and was told NOT to do it! SHEESH! How shortsighted can a govenment get?) I am old enough to remember the launch of Sputnik (1957) -- and the shock it created. The Space Race was on. (With a rather humorous fumbling around in the US newsroom to figure out exactly what Sputnik was. "The Russians lost a basketball or something in space...") And while some people may think it was a waste of money to go to the moon, a great deal of modern technology can be traced to those decades. But this is not a book about technology per se. Nor is it a mission-by-mission account of the space program. Rather, it focuses more on the human interest side of the story from the standpoint of a reporter who was there. It's really about the men and women who have made the space program possible.

Jay Barbree brings us a very entertaining book packed with interesting stories. It contains not only NASA's best days, but also it's worst mishaps with details never seen before. I have not seen anything else that compares to Jay's knowlege of the space program and those who make it possible. It had me giggling through many fun stories.

This book is a fantastic read. A real account of the goings on behind the scenes at the Cape. Hilarious at times, serious and insightful at others. Great read for high school students interested in space or anyone who has lived through the beginnings of the space program. Perfect gift for those wanting a completely different view on the astronauts of the time.

It was a great read. I watched it all from day one and had forgotten some of the failures. Jay did a terrific job and I would recommend it anyone. I especially liked him taking NASA to task on a number of issues.

Jay Barbree takes us back to those very first launches -- even before the launches when nothing rose higher than half a foot before blowing itself up. He's covered every launch from the Cape since the ill-fated Vanguard half a century ago, still covers every launch for NBC-TV. Those stick and rudder days of the space age come to life in this book -- it's a joy to read, harkin' back to when we were an adventurous people, willing to take on any challenge. It's a must read for youngsters who weren't around when those first daring astronauts took off into the dangerous unknown.