The anniversary of the first footstep on the Moon is being celebrated in an array of new books. Drawing on NASA's archive of oral histories, and declassified Central Intelligence Agency material on the space race, historian Craig Nelson tells in Rocket Men (Viking) the full story of the Apollo programme from the crews' training to the first moonwalkers' return as media stars.
In his straight-talking memoir Magnificent Desolation (Harmony), co-written with author Ken Abraham, Buzz Aldrin describes the great journey. More than 600 million people watched Aldrin become the second man to set foot on the Moon. But on his return to Earth he spiralled into depression and alcoholism.
Other Apollo astronauts describe their lunar experiences in Andrew Chaikin's Voices From the Moon (Viking Studio) and select their favourite photographs from the mission in Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts (Abrams), edited by Robert Jacobs and others.
NASA's official history, Apollo Expeditions to the Moon, edited by Edgar Cortright, is being reissued by Dover. It will include first-hand accounts from those involved in all areas of the mission and a DVD with historic space footage.
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Apollo books. Nature 460, 328 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/460328a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/460328a
