2007 Sibert Medal Winner
"This excellent book will walk the reader step by step through man's
first landing on the moon. With photos and text, Catherine Thimmesh
accurately portrays the accomplishments of those 'unsung heroes, ' the
mission control team that assured success of Apollo 11."
--James A. Lovell, astronaut, Apollo 8, Apollo 13, Gemini 7, and
Gemini 12
Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For
Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not
just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together
twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who
created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery
reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software
experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo
developers, engineers, and navigators.
Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the
scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and
concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA
photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this
feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the
greatest team ever--the team that worked to first put man on that great
gray rock in the sky.