Echoes among the Stars: a Short History of the U. S. Space Program: A Short History of the U. S. Space Program

Emphasizing the importance of the space programme to the scientific, social and cultural history of the last half of the 20th century, this brief history celebrates the almost unimaginable technological leap that the space programme represents, a feat of teamwork, innovation, dedication and mastery unprecedented in the history of mankind. Walsh's narrative begins just before the Mercury programme, covers the original seven astronauts, the Gemini and Apollo programmes, through Skylab and up to the space shuttle. The glories and emotion of space exploration are presented against the backdrop of the Cold War, the presidential administrations of Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford and Carter, and other singificant events in US history. The positive accomplishments of the astronauts are put in context of an increasingly negative domestic situation in the '60s and '70s, the Bay of Pigs, civil rights, assassinations, growing involvement in and dissension about Vietnam, the Watergate scandal, and Nixon's resignation. Walsh's Narrative Begins Just Before The Mercury Program, Covers The Original Seven Astronauts, The Gemini And Apollo Programs, Through Skylab And Up To The Space Shuttle. The Glories And Emotion Of Space Exploration Are Presented Against The Backdrop Of The Cold War, The Presidential Administrations Of Eisenhower, Jfk, Lbj, Nixon, Ford, And Carter, And Other Significant Events In U.s. History. The Positive Accomplishments Of The Astronauts Are Placed In The Context Of An Increasingly Negative Domestic Situation In The 1960s And 1970s, The Bay Of Pigs, Civil Rights, Assassinations, Growing Involvement In And Dissension About Vietnam, The Watergate Scandal, And Nixon's Resignation. A More Readable, Colorful Picture Of The U.s. Space Program Has Not Been Available To A Nontechnical Audience. Enlivened With Photos And A Chronology That Includes The Soviet's Progress In Space And Important Domestic Political And Cultural Events In The United States, This Book Is The Ideal Introduction For Any Reader To The Great Technical Triumphs Of The Generation Following World War Ii.--jacket. Nasa Lifts Off: The 1950s -- Project Mercury: Setting The Sights -- Project Gemini: A Bridge To The Moon -- Apollo 1: Lives In Eclipse -- Apollo Before The Moon: Into The Light -- Apollo 11: Life On An Ancient World -- Apollo 12 And Apollo 13: Storms In Space -- Before The Short Day Ends: Apollo In Twilight -- Skylab: A Place In Space -- Apollo-soyuz Test Project: A Handshake Across The Heavens -- The 1970s: Journeys Without And Within -- Echoes: The Shuttle Era And Beyond -- The First Era In Space, 1957-1975. Patrick J. Walsh. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 191-193) And Index. "Walsh's narrative begins just before the Mercury program, covers the original seven astronauts, the Gemini and Apollo programs, through Skylab and up to the space shuttle. The glories and emotion of space exploration are presented against the backdrop of the Cold War, the presidential administrations of Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, and Carter, and other significant events in U.S. history. The positive accomplishments of the astronauts are placed in the context of an increasingly negative domestic situation in the 1960s and 1970s, the Bay of Pigs, civil rights, assassinations, growing involvement in and dissension about Vietnam, the Watergate scandal, and Nixon's resignation. A more readable, colorful picture of the U.S. space program has not been available to a nontechnical audience.". "Enlivened with photos and a chronology that includes the Soviet's progress in space and important domestic political and cultural events in the United States, this book is the ideal introduction for any reader to the great technical triumphs of the generation following World War II."--BOOK JACKET. Drawing on newly declassified information about the development of the U.S. and Soviet space programs and their impact on each other, and featuring 16 pages of photos, this fascinating factual account captures all the drama of the Space Race from before the Mercury program to the original seven astronauts, the Gemini and Apollo programs, through Skylab and up to the space shuttle. With vivid detail, it portrays the events and emotions of every mission against the backdrop of other significant events of the times. Walsh (literature and communications, Pace U., New York) offers a brief history of the technical triumphs of the space program and its effects on the scientific, social, and cultural history of the last half of the 20th century. Includes a dozen b&w historical photographs and a chronology.