Mission Control, This Is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon

This book is perfectly laid out for enjoyment and understanding. A nice quick overview of each of the manned Apollo missions. It includes original paintings by astronaut Al Bean (the fourth man on the moon). Very good book for space race buffs and those who don't yet appreciate the magnificent accomplishments and heroic men of this era of U.S. history.

I love this book. It is extremely well done, a bit different from the usual - it covers all Apollo flights from One to Seventeen. It is set out beautifully and the illustrations are superb. My grandson is going to be thrilled with this for Christmas.

The Russians and the Americans were like two brothers, always trying to outdo the other and come in first. At times, in their race to space, the Russians would pull ahead, only to have the Americans hot on their heels. On April 12, 1961 "Americans once again felt the sting of being second best" when Yuri Gagarin orbited the earth via his spaceship, Vostok. Projects Mercury and Gemini set the stage for the success of Project Apollo, but there were lists of things that had to be accomplished and the real race was on. Gus Grissom, one of three astronauts slated to be on the "first manned Apollo flight," Apollo One, was becoming more and more frustrated with the "communication problems" the project was having. "How are we going to get to the moon if we can't talk between two buildings?" He had a point there. This ill-fated mission never got off the ground when a disastrous fire on the launchpad took the lives of the crew in a horrifying manner. The next five missions were unpiloted and everyone was cautious. Even the Russians lost Vladimir Komarov. Were we really ready to tempt fate and head to the moon? The race was now on in earnest. This book covers each manned Apollo mission in a vibrant, thrilling manner touching on history while including the viewpoints as many people involved in the project as possible. The emotional cast of the book ranges from heartbreak to humor to ecstasy. In the front of the book there is an illustration and overview of the Apollo spacecraft. Early on there is a two-page spread on both the Mercury and Gemini Missions outlining the crew, the duration of the flight and their achievements. This book is absolutely marvelous! The stunning full color art work by former Apollo 12 lunar module pilot, Alan Bean, will blow you away. The writing quickly draws the reader in. Even the most reluctant reader will make it to the end. Dozens of people were interviewed for this book, including Apollo astronauts, flight directors, controllers and many other people who played a part in the Apollo Project. There are numerous photographs, fantastic sidebars, an index and additional recommended book and web site resources. This is one book you definitely won't be able to resist buying!

Andrew Chaikin and Alan Bean are a powerful team for introducing the Apollo program to a new generation. Few authors can compete with Andrew Chaikin when it comes to telling the stories of Apollo, and Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean is the only artist who can paint the Moon with the passion of personal experience. The Bean artwork and captions are sufficient to "promote" this book to coffee-table status, and the expertly-crafted text is also consistent with a book that any adult could happily browse and digest while waiting for an appointment in a swanky office. My entire review is posted on the National Space Society (nss.org) Web site, but the bottom line is: Chaikin and Bean have created something that is more like a cherished family album or an artist's portfolio than a children's book. Space enthusiasts of all ages would do well to add this one to their personal collections.