Apollo on the Moon
New York: The Dial Press, Inc., 1969. Second Printing. Hardcover. [12], 144, [4] pages. Pencil erasure residue on fep. DJ has creases in plastic coating of DJ. Detailed procedures of what the astronauts would do on their first few visits to the moon. Mr. Cooper, a fifth-generation descendant of the early-19th-century herald of historical fiction, was the author of eight books, and a longtime writer for The New Yorker. Mr. Cooper celebrated scientific achievement, addressed scientific failure and demystified what was behind both. Reviewing his book “Apollo on the Moon” in 1969 in The New York Times, Franklin A. Long, who was the vice president for research at Cornell University, said that Mr. Cooper’s description of an imminent mission to the moon was “remarkably evocative” and that a reader “gets the feel of what it is like to be a crew member in the lunar module.”. Derived from a Kirkus review: An astronaut sitting in the Apollo 11 command module will look out the window and follow with his eyes the firefly shape of the first craft to land, 69 miles below, on the moon. What will happen when its occupants reach luna firma is described in this book, most of which has appeared before in The New Yorker. According to Mr. Cooper, there will be a scheduled-in moment for a whoop of joy; then straight to work on geological expeditions and experiments, with tools and objectives which he details. Hopefully, the findings will shed some light on such issues as the origins of moon craters and the slim possibility of microscopic life in the lunar subsurface. This account is drawn from extensive interviews with astronauts, engineers, and selenologists (moon geologists), as well as the author's observations of preparations for the flight. Unlike most space reporters, Cooper maintains a calm objectivity, noting with mild irony some of the darker sides of the moon landing: the general lack of any well-argued rationale for manned space flight; and the rather scary matter whether the ship might bring back lunar germs. For many it will be a fascinating preview with its own thoughtful excitement. Condition: Very good / Good.
Keywords: Space Exploration, Apollo Program, Astronauts, Apollo11, Lunar Landing, Lunar Module, NASA, National Aeronautics and Space
[Book #6164]
Price: $27.50