Recommended Reading & Video
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| The only true classic in books on spaceflight history, Tom Wolfe's legendary novel tells the true- behind the scenes- story of America's first astronauts (The Mercury 7 & The New Nine), and that of hero test pilot Chuck Yeager. An absolute must read for all space enthusiast and for those wanting a true look into the lives of the astronauts, their families, and the nations fledgling space program. | The film based on the the non-fiction novel "The Right Stuff"
by Tom Wolfe. This critically acclaimed film highlights the best parts
of the book, giving a spectacular look at the Mercury astronauts, test
piloting, and America's race for space. Nominated for 8 academy awards,
it won 4 in 1983. Starring: Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager Dennis Quaid as Gordo Cooper Ed Harris as John Glenn Scott Glenn as Alan Shepard Barbara Hershey as Glennis Yeager Fred Ward as Gus Grissom Pamela Reed as Trudy Cooper |
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| Autobiography of the last man to set foot on the moon, Astronaut Gene Cernan. This book is an excellent read, one that you won't be able to put down until you've finished it. He tells the true happenings behind the scene at NASA, and gives detailed stories of his three trips into space. | The beautifully made HBO mini-series from HBO and space enthusiast Tom Hanks, devotes an entire hour to portraying each of the Apollo flights | The acclaimed film portrayal of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission of
1970. The film makes you feel as if you are really there; inside of
mission control, and fighting for your life onboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft.
Includes a cameo appearance by Captain Jim Lovell as the IWO JIMA commander
at the film's end. Winner of 2 academy awards in 1996. |
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| It is the book that was made into a History Channel special. Failure is not an Option is the inside story of mission control, including the triumphs made during the Apollo 13 mission. Written by veteran NASA flight director Gene Kranz. | Gripping biography of Neil Armstrong by James Hansen. Tells about the mysterious man who became the first person to walk on the moon. | The true story of NASA and the space race from two of its original heroes. Astronauts Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton collaborate to bring us "Moon Shot"! |
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GATTACA is one of my personal all time favorites. Its a film that recieved critical acclaim but somehow did not attain much public attention. A genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel. One of the best science fiction films ever made, inspires a new generation of astronaut hopefuls in the face of tremendous odds. Starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law. "The is no gene for the human spirit." |
From
The Discovery Channel Store: Commemorate NASA's 50th anniversary with this stunning high-definition series chronicling the inside story of the space agency's epic endeavors. From John Glenn's Mercury mission to orbit the earth, to Neil Armstrong's first historic steps on the moon, to the unprecedented spacewalks required to repair the Hubble telescope, these epic stories are shown in stunning clarity and told by the astronauts and engineers who were there. |
A thorough text on spacecraft systems engineering written by Michael Griffin before he became NASA's Administrator. The text starts with an overall description of the basic mission considerations for spacecraft design, including space environment, astrodynamics, and atmospheric reentry. Then the various subsystems are discussed, and in each case, both the theoretical background and the current engineering practice are fully explained. Note: This text is written for senior level engineering students and practicing engineers. Therefore knowledge of advanced mathematics, physics, and engineering sciences is required for a full understanding. |
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