Dimensions
129 x 198 x 20mm
No achievement defines the second half of the twentieth century more than America's historic moon landing in July 1969 when Neil Armstrong uttered the immortal words "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Here for the first time is a full account of the Space Race from the end of the Second World War to that epoch-making moment.
James Schefter deftly brings to life the dozens of smart, brave and colourful individuals who contributed to the greatest exploration in the history of mankind.
A young reporter for 'Life' in the sixties, Schefter was trusted by the astronauts and mission controllers who wanted the real story passed on to history. He tells of the astronauts' feuds and practical jokes, of the vicious battles between the German (often ex-Nazi) rocket pioneers and the younger American engineers, and reveals the many near-fatal accidents other than "Apollo 13" which occurred during this period.
This exhilarating, true, behind-the-scenes tale proves that the race to the moon was anything but the smooth journey of popular imagination.
