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Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon
 
 

Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon (Paperback)

by Charles R., Bib Pellegrino (Author), Joshua Stoff (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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4 new from CDN$ 72.47 7 used from CDN$ 1.02

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Product Description

From Library Journal

This is a readable, colorful book that should be approached with caution. The authors put Grumman Corporation, prime contractor for the lunar module, in center stage. While contractors often get less credit than they deserve, the emphasis here results in an unbalanced view. The resolution of major issues generally was much more complex than the narrative suggests. One might infer from the text that a Grumman executive singlehandedly convinced the White House to implement the Space Station program. Finally, the authors have re-created some of the correspondence and dialogue, a technique which is not always successful. Which parts are historically accurate and which are not? In spite of dramatic writing, use of historically significant material, and a number of interesting illustrations, this, by its nature, appears to be a rather subjective account. Roger E. Bilstein, History Dept., Univ. of HoustonClear Lake
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


About the Author

Dr. Charles Pellegrino is the author of twelve books, including Unearthing Atlantis and Her Name, Titanic. He is a paleontologist who designs robotic space probes and relativistic rockets. In his spare time, Pellegrino writes mindbending technothrillers. Jan de Bont, the director of Speed and Twister, has recently signed on to direct the film adaptation of Pellegrino's Dust. Dr. Pellegrino lives in New York.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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20 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
5.0 out of 5 stars Chariots for Apollo - The Making of the Lunar Module, Jun 5 2002
By Kyle C. Miller (Coquitlam, BC Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is a great book that is actually a perfect complement for the newly released 'Moon Lander' by Thomas Kelly.

I discovered this gem as originally released in 1985. The descriptions of subsequent releases have downplayed the fact that this is truly the story about building, testing, flying and living in the LEM.

It's great for spaceflight enthusiasts interested in Grumman's development of the LEM. Lots of great detail and drama.
I'd recommend for those who enjoy the NASA Mission Reports series.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The authors know the value of human drama, Feb 18 2002
By P. C. Brown "pcbrown" (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
and don't shy away from infusing their history of the Lunar Module with emotion. I read this book years ago when the a subtitle prepared me for its "limited" scope. This is popular history, not academia, and hence it's a marvelous read. For anyone interested in the history of space exploration, this makes a fun summertime "beach book."
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4.0 out of 5 stars The Best "Untold Story" About the Space Race, Jan 30 2002
By Mark Harju (Everett, WA United States) - See all my reviews
The awe-inspiring successes of the Apollo program have unfortunately served to hide the tireless efforts of the armies of technicians that made it happen. "Chariots for Apollo" serves to correct that oversight. The Grumman "Iron Works" on Long Island, NY was home to the astounding Lunar Excursion Module, the world's first (and still only) true manned "spacecraft", and this is the unabridged story of how it came to be.

Although many books about the space program trumpet its triumphs, the costly human side of this colossal technological initiative, the ultimate goal of which was to beat the Soviets to the moon, is revealed here. In reading this book, one gets a palpable sense of the almost unbelieveable stresses borne by the bold scientists and engineers who took this monster on and made the dream a reality, and that their staggering achievements were not without penalty in human lives. The book pulls no punches in discussing the psychological costs to those involved in terms of broken families, alcoholism, suicide, and even cases where people literally died of exhaustion.

Interesting, easy-to-read technical anecdotes about how the the most revolutionary craft since the Wright Flyer was made, and how huge technical obstacles were surmounted with ingenuity, will interest and at times amuse the reader. In sum, the book covers both the technical and the personal well, but doesn't overwhelm with jargon, and leaves the reader feeling a glow of pride in their achievement. Highly recommended.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible story well told...
There are countless books chronicling the race to the moon and the triumphs of the Apollo program. Most of them are well worth reading too. Read more
Published on Jul 28 2001 by John Rummel

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, but needs a title change
Many, many fascinating details about the world's first true spaceship - the Apollo Lunar Module. This book is simply full of historical events described nowhere else, and anyone... Read more
Published on Feb 1 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Was Really Helpful
I reed the book one time and found it to be very intereshting. But it has no piktures:)
Published on Dec 12 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Space Race Story from a Different Perspective
This book is a pleasant change from the NASA/Astronaut perspective of the 1960's race to the moon. This story is told through the eyes of one supplier, the lunar module designers... Read more
Published on May 25 2000 by Eric B. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent technical history of the LM
This is a very good read. As a mechanical engineer, I was fascinated by the technical aspects of the discussion of the Lunar Module (LM) development, but also pleased at the... Read more
Published on May 22 2000 by G. Kirkos

4.0 out of 5 stars A great behind the scenes telling of the lunar module
A fabulous book telling the story of the design of the lunar module that carried men to the moon. A good human story presenting insight into the engineers personalities and how... Read more
Published on May 5 2000 by Stephen A Haines

3.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete, but still worthwhile
I saw this book listed after seaching for more books about the Apollo program. I have read Andrew Chaikin's book, and a book called "Angle of Attack. Read more
Published on April 5 2000

3.0 out of 5 stars Good as far as it goes, but...
...could have been so much better. Concentrates on the LM with no mention of the rest of the Apollo hardware which I'm sure have stories that are just as interesting. Read more
Published on Mar 15 2000 by Kevin Fitzsimons

3.0 out of 5 stars Story of the birth, life, and senescence of the LM
This book is an entertaining account of the teams that designed and built the Lunar Module, one of the most complex and highly engineered craft in the history of space travel... Read more
Published on Mar 3 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, not bad at all...
Overall, this was a worthwhile read. As others have noted, the cover is misleading. This book is a detailed chronicle of the manufacture of the Lunar Module, and not a general... Read more
Published on Feb 11 2000 by Jim Kirk

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