Moonshot: The Inside Story of Mankind's Greatest Adventure

by Dan Parry

On July 20, 1969 more than 500 million people across the globe watched as the first man in history stepped onto the face of another planet. The triumph of the Apollo 11 mission was a momentous pinacle that followed years of construction, planning, and training, all of which is conveyed in this captivating history that uses official accounts to tell the real, untold story. The background of the space race is retold in full detail, including the role of the Cold War and America’s desire to flex its international muscle. The fraught and often bitter relationships between the three men destined to make history—hot-headed Buzz Aldrin, easygoing Michael Collins, and the inscrutable Neil Armstrong—are also addressed, as is the nail-biting moment when, just minutes before Armstrong and Aldrin were about to reach the surface of the moon, their equipment failed. This is an engaging account of a mission that could easily have gone terribly wrong, but instead turned into an American triumph.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Space, Ebooks, Astronomy, Technology

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Dan Parry has worked for the BAFTA award-winning documentary team at TWI on their acclaimed "The British Empire in Colour" and has worked as script researcher on the BBC2 series "Journeys to the Bottom of the Sea." In mid-2002, Parry began researching D-Day story-lines for Dangerous Films, joining Dangerous on a full-time basis in May 2003.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turned out to be a fairly high level overview of Nasa from the Mercury Program through Deke Slayton's mission. Given it's length, I didn't expect much more. That being said, given its title I was hoping that more of the content was directed specifically at the Apollo program.

A good quick read for anyone that wants a easy-to-read high level summary of Nasa's efforts from '59 through the mid 70s. I give this 4 stars instead of 3 because contributors Slayton and Shepard are true American heroes; the book is based on their first hand experiences and impressions, which I found to be compelling. In sum, a quick must-read for anyone interested in the experience of the Mercury Seven, if not a brief history of the space program from Mercury through Apollo.

[Mark Iliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard of Sputnik I was walking across Ashtead Common with Nigel and Aunty Gill. It sticks in my mind because, even before my 5ᵗʰ birthday, I knew my understanding of the world was suddenly outdated. When Apollo 11 landed I was on CCF camp near Stirling, and the NAAFI tent with the tiny B&W TV was heaving with 16-year-olds in battledress. Space exploration since then has been a bit of a let-down. So of course I was going to read this book.

The world probably didn’t need any more books on Apollo 11 – indeed, it probably didn’t need any more books on Apollo 11 with Moonshot in the title – but this is a pretty clear and readable account, once you accept that it was probably unavoidable to interweave the mission with the preparations. The author comes across as British (though there is no bio in the book), and that is a strength since it spares us the ra-ra everything-is-superlative approach Americans often adopt when talking about their nation’s achievements. Parry has a nice clear understated style that works well.

One surprise, though, is his use of feet, pounds & Fahrenheit. I know it’s what NASA used at the time, but it’s still unduly quaint in the 21ˢᵗ century. Yes, he does often include conversions (eg “103,000 lb (51 tons)”), though it’s still unclear whether he means US tons (907 kg) or Imperial tons (1,120 kg); doesn’t make a huge difference, but feels sloppy.

There are a lot of names and acronyms to keep track of, but you can follow the story without being obsessive about the former while the latter are listed at the back (as I found out after reading).

Overall, I’m glad I read it but it wouldn’t have taken much to make it better.

[Jose Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro donde nos narra las misiones Apolo para conseguir llegar a la Luna, no fué tarea sencilla, fueron un gran conjunto de personas para logar la gran hazaña de llegar.
Y no, no fué un show montado en un estudio, costó vidas humanas.
Me gustó el libro.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished... Moon Shot by Dan Parry. An accessible book covering the Apollo programme and especially the Apollo 11 moon landing lent to me by my dad. Full of admiration as always for the space programme and for the bravery, intelligence and endurance of those involved. Awe-inspiring.

[Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro que da la oportunidad de tener una visión verdaderamente integral de la misión del Apolo 11 y todo lo que representó: para la época, para la historia, para Estados Unidos y sus ciudadanos, para el mundo, para la guerra fría y para todos aquellos que intervinieron de una u otra forma con el proyecto.

La narración es especialmente amena al no ser totalmente lineal; esa particularidad, aunada a los muchísimos detalles que no habían estado disponibles antes para ell público en general sobre la misión, hacen que sea especialmente entretenido.

Ojalá lo leyeran todos los conspiranoicos que afirman que nunca se realizó el viaje a la luna, para que conocieran todo el trabajo que implicó y la razón por la que una aventura de semejante tamaño es imposible de falsificar.

[Escultor Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro hay que leerlo con calma, y re-leerlo; además es mi fuente de consulta cada vez que veo un documental de la historia del programa Apolo.
Objetivo: La Luna de Dan Parry (Moonshot en EU), cobra vigencia e importancia en estos tiempos que existe una nueva carrera de las naciones por la Luna.
Leyendo las noticias actuales de la sonda de la India y la nave fracasada de Rusia cuyo objetivo es nuestro satélite, es muy importante analizar como fue la aventura tècnico-administrativa y humana que logró poner por primera vez en la historia al hombre allá arriba.
En este libro por primera vez leí acerca del “olor” del espacio, y de cuan incómodos eran los trajes de astronauta que tanto nos fascinaron desde la infancia.
Me asombra el ingenio humano y la épica aventura norteamericana para realizar esta hazaña en una fecha donde las carencias tecnológicas eran tantísimas si se les compara con nuestro tiempo.
Este libro nos acerca a los ingenieros responsables, al equipo de centro de vuelo, a las familias de los astronautas, y a ese periodo de nuestra humanidad. Y sobretodo a lo que se dijo en esos días, a los reportes de cada astronauta.
Muchas historias del viaje a la luna son bien conocidas pero otras no tanto, y este libro contiene información que la gente común jamás habíamos imaginado.

[James Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

16th July 1969, and Apollo 11 blasts off on the mighty Saturn V rocket, engineered by eminent Nazi scientist, Wernher von Braun, plus thousands of others at NASA. Finally landing on the Moon on the 20th July, enigmatic Neil Armstrong utters famous words, The Eagle has landed. Becoming the first person to step on the surface of the moon, Earth's only satellite and big enough to be classed as a planet, Neil utters what is probably the most famous words ever, It's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Passionate Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin follows around 15 minutes later, describing it as Magnificent Desolation. Meanwhile several miles up in space, inscrutable Michael Collins feels a sense of extreme loneliness, when going round the dark side of the moon. Not surprising really, he is cut off from communication from the earth and the lunar module on the moon. This book describes the Apollo 11 mission down to detail.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the Apollo 11 space mission the first to land on the moon. A good balance between the technological details of the preparations for the misssion and the personal lives of those involved (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collin). Describes how the Saturn 5 rocket actually carried 3 spacecraft and also describes the much neglected story of how they actually got back from the Moon.

[Dan Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and easy read composed of sections taking the reader through the days of the Apollo 11 mission, interspersed with sections explaining the history of the US space programme and the back stories of the 3 astronauts on the mission.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating book about the first Moon landing with the Apollo 11 crew. The very well written chapters alternate between the goings on in the space craft and historical, scientific or biographical facts, making it a highly interesting read.

[David Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really engrossing read that gives a broad understanding of the Apollo programme, a detailed chronology of the actual landing and a really good look at the three men who went to the moon

[michael dane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and improved my understanding

Very good and improved my understanding. Lots of behind the scenes detail. What more can I say but you should read it

[Paschalis]

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[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love your leaders, be a mindless ant in the anthill and cheer when your leaders tell you "Humanity has reached the Moon", your task is to generate income for the machine.

[Kj Moodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit dry at times but once I got to the takeoff of Apollo 11 i couldn't put it down. An exhilarating story of the greatest achievement in history.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Parry supplies a direct and appropriately detailed story of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon with the historic first man on the moon event. Parry interweaves the background story for Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins with the chronological sequence of events occurring during the space flight. Well researched and well written, this book flushes out the many hazards and challenges that occurred during the training and execution of this mission. Of course, the 8 day mission culminated with Neil and Buzz stepping on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Parry keeps the readers interest with accounts of the amazing X-15 rocket plane, Lunar Landing training, Soviet gamesmanship and the dozens of other sub-plots occurring during the space race.

I listened to Moon Shot on an audiobook and I must complement the reader, John Chancer, for his smooth and engaging narration of the story. I give Moon Shot a good read.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you proud to be an American! For those of us that were privileged enough to be alive in 1969 and saw the event live on tv, it will refresh the thrill of seeing Neil Armstrong step onto the moon's surface on a snowy small screen TV. For those not that lucky, it will describe in detail one of the greatest events in all of man's history.

For all it will give facts and figures that will astound and educate. Did you know that Armstrong figured the missions chances for a success was about 50%? Did you know that President Nixon had staff prepare a speech in case the astronauts did not return? Read this book and be amazed at the dedication of our astronauts, the bravery of each man, the the glory of being the first man to set foot on another member of our solar system 44 years ago.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest story ever told... of the greatest engineering achievement in the history of humanity. I actually think it's the greatest story ever told, period.

Disclaimer: the Apollo program will never get old for me, so when I say that this is the best book I've read this year, take that with the appropriate grain... Parry did a marvelous job weaving the chronological recount with the back story of the crew, NASA, the development, the tragedies and of course, the triumphs. I found myself holding my breath as I read the part of the landing and that is something no book has ever be able to invoke in me.

Excellent. Highly recommended.

[Ricardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objetivo: La Luna. La historia oculta de la más grande aventura del hombre. Dan parry se metió hasta el fondo del archivero para regalarnos los detalles de la aventura que emocionó a la humanidad entera el 20 de julio de 1969. Me incluyo, porque me veo frente al televisor en blanco y negro con la imagen de Armstrong bajando del módulo lunar. Son las imágenes que permanecerán en mi memoria por siempre....yo sí tengo qué contarle a mis nietos!! Si la Luna se debe tomar a cucharadas como decía el maestro Sabines, no dudo que también se debe tomar hojeando este libro.

[John Monaghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was interesting, told from Aan and Deke's point of view. I did find the last chapter, where the writer spent a number pf pages railing against the government for curtailing funding of a number f manned space projects. Up to that point I liked the book but I was not expecting a biographic telling of the past events to be taken over by a political rant. For that reason,, this particular edition gets a single star. My apologies to the Shepard and Slayton families for the low score but the writer turned me off.

[Anthony Blando · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only imagine what it would've been like living back in the 60s. This book he gave a really great insight into the fragility of man and the seemingly impossible task of going to the moon. It was also a very unique look at the different systems that had to come together in order to make that project work. Specifically the US military – NASA and the individual personalities of all of the members involved.

[Peter Langston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of detail I haven't seen before. Some of the "small" stuff was fascinating. It was disappointing Parry wan't able to spend more time on the post flight events and the changes being the first men on the moon made to Aldrin and Armstrong. There's a book waiting to be written about the twelve men who walked on the moon and the six who circled overhead ... not their flights but how it changed their lives.

[Andrew Doran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Dan Parry interweaves the story of the Apollo 11 mission with the events that led up to it to make an immensely readable and engrossing story. There were so many things mentioned in the book that gave me an "Oh, yes! I hadn't thought of that" moment. All the while I am still in disbelief that they achieved what they did with 1960s technology. Amazing.

[Jack Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Moonshot, Parry manages to convey the factual side of the lunar missions, wonderfully balancing the landing itself with events beforehand. A must-have for anyone interested in the lunar landings, yet the fifth star is absent due to longevity of it all - many pages and stories are dragged out, yet still bearable.

[Mark Pengelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this in the library just before going on holiday. What's good about this book on the Apollo 11 moon landing is that it strikes just the right balance on how much technical and background info to give, and the right level of backstory to the key characters...

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parry provides a well-told narrative of the Apollo 11 flight, interspersed with flashbacks to the crew's previous experiences and NASA's program efforts. Well-based in published sources and interviews, this volume is linked to the TV documentary of the same name.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well written book about Apollo 11 and the first trip to the moon. Very interesting to read.

[Jeff Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and very entertaining. Must be the authors last name ;).
Of course the subject and actors steal the show, but Parry adds a nice rhythm to the smaller stories within the larger one.

[Buggz79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well told story. There is quite a bit of technical jargon but it does not detract from the story and the humanity of the tale. I really enjoyed this read.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account of the moon landings and the men who made it happen. Enjoyable.