In Their Own Words, the Space Race: The Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury Missions

by Rod Pyle

Covers the groundbreaking moments in the history of space exploration with documentary footage and narration, candid interviews, and the actual transmissions between Mission Control and the crews of the Apollo, Mercury, and Gemini projects. Includes bonus DVD.

Audio CD

Published April 1, 2003

About the author

Rod is the author of 15 nonfiction books (plus three for NASA) on his favorite subject, space exploration and technology. He tracks this fascination back to childhood, when his introversion led him to spend countless hours watching rocket launches, moonwalks and science fiction (which often led to truancy, countenanced by an understanding mother). While his contemporaries revered football players (basketball was not really a "thing" yet), he wanted nothing more than to become an astronaut. He now realizes that breaking into a sweat when it takes the elevator doors a few moments too long to open probably makes him a poor candidate for spaceflight.

While Rod actually attended seven colleges and universities in the search of the perfect major, he ended up getting a BA at the Art Center College of Design in film (because only poetry is less likely to get you a job), and an MA from Stanford University (where the weather is even better).

He lives in Pasadena, CA but dreams of azure seas and tropical shores.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book on Americas golden age of space travel and the original Rocket Men that I'd suggest to anyone that wants to get a good, interesting start. Love this book and this era.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of sound clips and recorded conversations with astronauts at work, this survey of the Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury programs feels like a radio documentary. I am just old enough to recall times when someone would manage to get through on a phone line and leave it off the hook and connected so I could after school listen in to audio like this which spans Ike, Kennedy, LBJ & Nixon.

Much in detail here covers the early USSR lead from Sputnik to various manned spaceflights until incontrovertible US dominance with the moon landings.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great listen. The combination of historical exposure plus actual recordings of the events made it really come alive.

[Rod Pyle]

Wrote it- will abstain.