Apollo Missions For Kids

In 1961 President Kennedy issued a challenge to land a person on the moon and return safely to Earth before the end of the 1960s, a bold proclamation at the time, given that only one US astronaut had been to space, for just 15 minutes. The race to the moon was part of the larger Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, a race where the Russians appeared far ahead of the Americans. Apollo was a complicated, dangerous and expensive adventure involving 400,000 people across the nation. Before it was over, NASA had made 11 Apollo flights, six of which landed on the moon, and eight astronauts had lost their lives. But it was also fun, and the crews never missed a chance to enjoy the trip or pull off a prank 240,000 miles from home. The Apollo Missions for Kids tells the story from the perspective of those who lived it—the astronauts and their families, the controllers and engineers, the technicians and politicians who made the impossible possible.

"The story behind the historic race to the moon, from the perspective of the Americans who lived it--the astronauts and their families, the controllers and engineers, the technicians and politicians who made the impossible possible"--

“An extraordinary delight for a reader of any age.” —The New York Times Book Review Brian Floca explores Apollo 11’s famed moon landing with this newly expanded edition of Moonshot! Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery—a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.

A unique look at the successful Ñ though nearly disastrous Ñ Apollo 11 moon landing! In a riveting narrative told from the astronautsÕ points of view, readers get to relive every step of Apollo 11Õs 1969 mission Ñ from ignition to moon walk to splashdown Ñ including the nail-biting (and relatively unknown) crucial moments when it came close to failure. And, setting this book apart, each step is linked to the innovations and discoveries from the past four centuries that made it possible. ItÕs a fascinating new perspective on an epic journey Ñ and how STEM set it in motion! Readers better fasten their seat belts, theyÕre in for the ride of a lifetime!

When Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, 530 million viewers watched Commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin leave Earth with bated breath. This book relates the significant parts of that momentous journey, including the first color TV transmission to Earth, and the 21 hours, 36 minutes that Armstrong and Aldrin spent on the moon's surface. Bourgeoning scientists will be enthralled by this captivating history of the Apollo 11 adventure, which incorporates key social studies and science concepts.

A true story from one of the Women of NASA! Margaret Hamilton loved numbers as a young girl. She knew how many miles it was to the moon (and how many back). She loved studying algebra and geometry and calculus and using math to solve problems in the outside world. Soon math led her to MIT and then to helping NASA put a man on the moon! She handwrote code that would allow the spacecraft’s computer to solve any problems it might encounter. Apollo 8. Apollo 9. Apollo 10. Apollo 11. Without her code, none of those missions could have been completed. Dean Robbins and Lucy Knisley deliver a lovely portrayal of a pioneer in her field who never stopped reaching for the stars.

Humans have made astonishing progress understanding space. The Space Exploration series takes readers on a journey through some of scientists most exciting discoveries and achievements. Learn how people continue to explore our solar system and beyond. Space Exploration is a series of AV2 media enhanced books. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. These books come alive with video, audio, weblinks, slideshows, activities, hands-on experiments, and much more.

“This behind-the-scenes look at the first Apollo moon landing has the feel of a public television documentary in its breadth and detail” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators. Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team ever—the team that worked to first put man on that great gray rock in the sky. Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award “An edge-of-your-seat adventure . . . Lavishly illustrated . . . This exhilarating book . . . will captivate.” —Chicago Sun-Times “Thimmesh gives names and voices to the army that got Neil Armstrong and company to the moon and back. The result is a spectacular and highly original addition to the literature of space exploration.” —The Horn Book “This beautiful and well-documented tribute will introduce a new generation to that triumphant time.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)