Exploring the Moon: The Apollo Expeditions (Springer-Praxis Books) - Softcover

Harland, David M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1852330996 ISBN 13: 9781852330996

Publisher: Springer London Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

If you have ever asked yourself What did the astronauts do on the lunar surface? What did they say while they were there? What did they photograph? How did their discoveries alter our understanding of lunar geology? Will we ever go back to the moon? If so, Exploring the Moon is the book for you. This unique insight into the three Apollo missions (15, 16 and 17) answers all these questions and much more. Using the actual transcripts of what the astronauts said to each other whilst carrying out their duties, and numerous photographs taken at each step of the exploration, this book provides a graphic illustration of what can arguably be described as Mankinds greatest feat of exploration.

About this title

Review

His readable and informative style make this a field-trip account that any reader will enjoy and learn from. -- The Observatory, Vol. 120, Issue 1154, 2000

I would urge anyone with the slightest interest in the moon to get hold of this book... -- Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 109, Issue 6

From the Author

What was it like to explore the Moon? Find out!!
Exploring The Moon - The Apollo Expeditions David M Harland

Exploring The Moon is a travelog; it follows the Apollo astronauts as they practised ‘lunar field geology’. Accordingly, the three ‘J’-missions which each spent three days on the Moon, are prominently covered. The text draws upon the transcripts (as listed in the ‘Apollo Lunar Surface Journal’) and is illustrated ‘in context’ with the Hasselblad pictures shot at that time and location. In addition, rarely-seen panoramas were assembled especially for this book.

"I have been concerned with the Moon for the past sixty years, but I concede that I learned a great deal from going through this book. Read it, and you will not be disappointed."

- Patrick Moore, in the Foreword.

"The age of planetary exploration is barely ‘post-Columbian’ in its development: Columbus has returned to Spain and perhaps the Earth is not flat after all; Cabot and Magellan have yet to make their voyages -- and Captain James Cook has not even been born. Before they go back to the Moon, or on to Mars and other planetary destinations -- even in their visions -- hopefully the Cabots, Magellans, Cooks, and Armstrongs of the future will enjoy the adventure of 'Exploring the Moon' and learn from the lessons of 'The Apollo Expeditions' through the pages of this exceptional book."

- Dave Scott, Apollo 15 Commander, in the Afterword.

Contents:

Foreword by Patrick Moore

Author’s Preface

1. The Robots

The Importance Of Being First, Ranger, Lunar Orbiter, Surveyor, Missions Accomplished, Selecting A Landing Site

2. Magnificent Desolation

Eagle’s Descent, Moonwalk, Moonrocks, Sense Of Perspective

3. ‘Pin-Point’ Target

Relaxing The Pace, Need For Precision, Landing By The Snowman, Scientific Station, Geological Traverse, Hurry Up, And Wait, Second ‘Rock Fest’

4. From The Moon - Knowledge

Satisfying The Geologists, Cuts, Unlucky Thirteen, Deep Sounding, Apollo Grounded, Revised Plans, Once More Moon-Bound, Chores, Cone Ridge, Fra Mauro Rocks, Big Picture, Exploration Imperative

5. The Wonder Of The Unknown At Hadley-Apennine

‘Advanced’ Mission, Skimming The Mountains, Site Survey, A Good Night’s Sleep, Venturing Out, Wheels, Across The Plain, On The Rille, Elbow, St George, Heading Home, Frustrations, The Long Drive, Working On The Slope, Spur’s Treasure, Tantalising Dune, Journey’s End, The Saga Of The Drill, Racing West, On The Rim, Final Act, No Longer Unknown, Apennine Front, Rille And The Plain, Apennine Bench, North Complex, Seismic Network, Lunar ‘Heat Engine’

6. Surprise At Descartes-Cayley

Quest, Perfect Place, Better Late Than Never, Plan In Tatters, Beautiful Rocks, Deploying The ALSEP, Flag And Spook, Plum, Buster, Heading South, Stone Mountain, Lower Slope, Sampling South Ray, To North Ray, Biggest Boulder, Shadow Rock, Back To The Drawing Board, New Seismic Insight

7. The Beautiful Valley Of Taurus-Littrow

Dilemma, Geologist-Astronaut, Multiplicity Of Objectives, Routine Landing, First Impression, All In All, A Good Start, Dash South, Somewhere Near Steno’s Crater, Back Home, Breaking Records, Longest Run, Light Mantle, Sampling The Talus, Back Down The Scarp, Trials And Tribulations, ‘Holy Grail’, Camelot’s Boulders, The Geology Of Tracy’s Rock, Another Piece Of The Puzzle, Sculptured Hills, Mysterious Van Serg, Hidden Valley, So Much For The Fumerole, The Tycho Link?, Christmas Finale

8. Luna Revival

Samplers, Lunokhods, Missed Opportunities 9. Apollo In Context

Ground Truth, Remote Sensing, Synergy, The Lost ‘I’-Missions, For A Few Dollars More, NASA’s Assessment, Starting Over

10. The Prospectors

Galileo, Clementine, Albedo Map, Basins, Gravity Survey, Mineralogy, Volatiles, Lunar Prospector, Water, What Next?

Afterword by Dave Scott

Tables

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer London Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1852330996
• ISBN 13: 9781852330996
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 411