Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings

Name: Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings
Price: 19.19 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (353 reviews)

4.6 of 5 Stars: Technology - Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings

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Book Synopsis: "THRILLING. ... Up-end[s] the Apollo narrative entirely." —The Times (London) A "brilliantly observed" (Newsweek) and "endlessly fascinating" (WSJ) rediscovery of the final Apollo moon landings, revealing why these extraordinary yet overshadowed missions—distinguished by the use of the revolutionary lunar roving vehicle—deserve to be celebrated as the pinnacle of human adventure and exploration.

One of The Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Books of the Month

8:36 P.M. EST, December 12, 1972: Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt braked to a stop alongside Nansen Crater, keenly aware that they were far, far from home. They had flown nearly a quarter-million miles to the man in the moon’s left eye, landed at its edge, and then driven five miles in to this desolate, boulder-strewn landscape. As they gathered samples, they strode at the outermost edge of mankind’s travels. This place, this moment, marked the extreme of exploration for a species born to wander.

A few feet away sat the machine that made the achievement possible: an electric go-cart that folded like a business letter, weighed less than eighty pounds in the moon’s reduced gravity, and muscled its way up mountains, around craters, and over undulating plains on America’s last three ventures to the lunar surface.

In the decades since, the exploits of the astronauts on those final expeditions have dimmed in the shadow cast by the first moon landing. But Apollo 11 was but a prelude to what came later: while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin trod a sliver of flat lunar desert smaller than a football field, Apollos 15, 16, and 17 each commanded a mountainous area the size of Manhattan. All told, their crews traveled fifty-six miles, and brought deep science and a far more swashbuckling style of exploration to the moon. And they triumphed for one very American reason: they drove.

In this fast-moving history of the rover and the adventures it ignited, Earl Swift puts the reader alongside the men who dreamed of driving on the moon and designed and built the vehicle, troubleshot its flaws, and drove it on the moon’s surface. Finally shining a deserved spotlight on these overlooked characters and the missions they created, Across the Airless Wilds is a celebration of human genius, perseverance, and daring.

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Discover the thrilling and captivating story of the final Apollo moon landings in "Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings". This brilliantly observed and endlessly fascinating book takes you on an unforgettable journey, upending the Apollo narrative and revealing why these extraordinary missions deserve to be celebrated as the pinnacle of human adventure and exploration. With its innovative use of the revolutionary lunar roving vehicle, this book will leave you in awe of the courage and ingenuity of the astronauts who ventured into the unknown.

Immerse yourself in history as you join Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt on their momentous journey to the moon's surface. Experience the exhilaration of their discovery as they explore a desolate, boulder-strewn landscape, far away from the comforts of home. At the outermost edge of mankind's travels, they push the boundaries of exploration, gathering samples that would forever change our understanding of the moon. And it is all made possible by the electric go-cart that folded like a business letter, weighing less than eighty pounds in the moon's reduced gravity. This remarkable vehicle allowed them to muscle their way through mountains, craters, and plains, forever cementing their place in history.

While Apollo 11 may have captured the world's attention with the first moon landing, it was Apollos 15, 16, and 17 that truly showcased the immense potential of lunar exploration. Covering vast mountainous areas the size of Manhattan, these expeditions stretched the limits of human achievement. Across fifty-six miles, these brave astronauts ventured into the unknown, bringing deep scientific knowledge and a swashbuckling style of exploration to the moon. Their triumph was made possible by the ability to drive.

Written by Earl Swift, "Across the Airless Wilds" is a fast-paced and gripping history of the lunar rover and the incredible adventures it ignited. Dive into the fascinating world of the men who dreamt of driving on the moon, designed and built the vehicle, and overcame numerous challenges to make it a reality. With its celebration of human genius, perseverance, and daring, this book sheds light on overlooked characters and missions that played a vital role in shaping our understanding of outer space.

Embark on an extraordinary journey through space and celebrate the triumphs of the final Apollo moon landings. Don't miss your chance to experience "Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings".Click here to explore more.

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