posted May 05, 2007 04:07 AM               

Anyway, for your information.

Chris.

How Apollo Flew to the Moon
by W. David Woods
Springer Praxis Books

Out of the technological battlefield of World War II came a team of gifted German engineers and designers who developed the vengeance weapon, the V-2, which evolved into the peaceful, powerful Saturn V rocket to take men to the Moon. David Woods tells the exciting story, starting from America’s post war astronautical research facilities, that used the V-2 for the development of the robust, resilient and reliable Saturn V launcher. He describes the initial launches through manned orbital spaceflights, comprehensively detailing each step, including computer configuration, the role of ground control, trajectory planning, lunar orbiting, separation of the lander, walking and working on the Moon, retrieval of the lunar astronauts and returning to Earth in this massive technical accomplishment.

• Paperback: 300 pages
  
• Publisher: Praxis; 1 edition (October 2007)
  
• ISBN-10: 0387716750
  
• ISBN-13: 978-0387716756
  
• Amazon link

posted May 05, 2007 09:16 AM               

This is a book by David Woods, editor of the Apollo Flight Journal. It explains how the manner in which Apollo flew to the moon. It isn't about a given mission, but uses anecdotes from different missions to illustrate points of interest along the way.

posted May 12, 2007 04:38 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by cspg:
Found this upcoming book (not a great cover);

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David Harland's summing up is much nearer the mark than the dreadful writeup Amazon used. My intention with the book was to bring together what I had learned when compiling the Apollo Flight Journal. It specifically covers only the flight portions of the missions. Similar to the film "For All Mankind" it is like a virtual flight, going through all the stages of the journey.

posted May 13, 2007 03:38 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by wdw:
Sorry the cover missed its mark. It was inspired by pulp SF covers from decades ago. For me, Apollo was like seeing science fiction come true.

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posted January 29, 2008 05:00 PM            

It is my attempt to bring the knowledge I gained while compiling the 'Apollo Flight Journal' into a narrative. The book is intended to be thorough and comprehensive while at the same time, amenable to be read by the general reader. David R. Scott, commander Apollo 15, has provided a Foreword to the book.

The first two chapters bring the less familiar reader up to speed with Apollo's achievements. There is an introduction to the Apollo programme and a brief history of all its flights. For the next twelve chapters, I trace through every stage of Apollo's journeys to the Moon, from launch to recovery, describing the technology, techniques and procedures that were required on each mission to get three humans to our nearest celestial neighbour, and get two of them to its surface. The book avoids discussion of surface crews' exploration. It includes a glossary and over 150 photos and illustrations plus 16 colour plates.

Though I deal with prosaic matters such as shaving and personal hygiene, particular emphasis is given to the manoeuvres involved with lunar orbit insertion, powered descent and the complexities of rendezvous and docking. Much use is made of the crews' dialogue as I dip into specific missions to demonstrate how things worked, and sometimes how they failed. My hope is to both strengthen my explanations and to inject the human element into the text to hopefully avoid making it too dry.

posted January 30, 2008 12:32 AM               

My copy is in the mail somewhere...

And your book should normally appear in NASA's History Office February 08 quarterly newsletter!

posted January 30, 2008 07:08 AM            

I received my copy of your book last week.

Currently I am about two thirds of the way way through, and would just like to pass on my congratulations as it does "exactly what it says on the tin!" I am familiar with most of the topics covered (in part due to your online work with the Flight Journal), but never have I found them all together in one volume, or explained in such an easy to grasp manner.

The drawings are very instructive and help explain topics such as inertial and orbital rate attitude, for example, as well as staples such as powered descent and direct or short rendezvous. The technique of telling the story of a "typical" lunar mission by interweaving tales from all the Apollo sorties, including problems unique to a particular mission and how they were solved (such as the Apollo 15 docking tunnel incident) is very successful and serves the purpose successfully. The many photographs also help illustrate what is happening at each mission segment for those unfamiliar with the technology involved.

To echo your own sentiments,I wish I had owned a copy of this book when I began to educate myself about the Apollo programme, over 30 years ago...

Your undoubted enthusiasm for and unparalleled knowledge of the subject translates extremely well and will be appreciated by all who visit collectSPACE. Your work has finally done justice to a topic so often brushed over or simply neglected, and I hope it reaches the wider audience it deserves!

Highly recommended!

posted February 05, 2008 04:16 PM            

Re. earlier comments about the cover, I was pleased when I got a copy in my hands and saw how it really got the eye. It is much punchier than I expected. I just hope it gets folk openng the book.

Cheers

posted March 02, 2008 04:07 PM            

Can't wait to read it!

Peter

posted March 29, 2008 11:42 AM            

Hopefully, as time goes on, that text will be replaced by better copy, perhaps along the lines of what I've put up in the book's website at hafttm.com

posted March 29, 2008 11:49 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by wdw:
Hopefully, as time goes on, that text will be replaced by better copy, perhaps along the lines of what I've put up in the book's website at hafttm.com

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David,

Had I been aware of the website, I would have submitted another text description of your book (which I thought was not good, to say the least). And your Jan.29 post came too late as I had a Jan.4 deadline. Sorry about that.

posted April 06, 2008 11:46 AM            

No worries. I guess I was really bemoaning the fact that the original blurb has become ubiquitous.

posted April 07, 2008 04:13 AM               

The book is terrific. It explains so many things about an Apollo flight that I wanted to know but didn't know where to turn for details. Congratulations David.

posted April 07, 2008 06:18 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by wdw:
In view of this forum being based around collectors, is there much interest in folk wanting signed copies of 'How Apollo Flew to the Moon'? I'd be happy to supply some as the book seems to be getting a good reception among the Apollo community.

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posted April 08, 2008 03:50 AM            

MCroft04, with you being the USA and me in Scotland, there's not much chance of our paths crossing. Nevertheless, if folk can pay the appropriate postage, I would be happy to sign copies.

Over the coming year, I may be around the IAC congress late September/Early October in Glasgow, and I am giving a talk for the Astronomical Society of Glasgow on December 18, near the 40th anniversary of Apollo 8.

Best wishes

posted September 11, 2008 04:45 AM            

First, I am attending the IAC2008 event in Glasgow, UK, at the end of September. Springer will have a stand there and I am slated to be signing books for them on Tuesday, 30 September at around 11am.

Also, I set up a website to support the book.

The main purpose of this site is to allow a degree of feedback for readers. I have a 'points arising' page and in there are various issues that readers have raised via an email address. I welcome feedback and hope that if the book gets a reprint or second edition, I can implement it.

Best wishes

posted September 11, 2008 08:36 AM               

CAVEAT I am not associated with the writer or publisher in any way.

posted September 12, 2008 02:40 AM               

(And again I have no connection with the author!)