Apollo / Springer Praxis Books (PDF)

Foreword.- Authors' preface.- Acknowledgements.- Dedication.- The decision to go the Moon.- The Apollo spacecraft.- Command Service Module.- Lunar Module.- Proving rendezvous was feasible.- The Saturn launch vehicles.- Ground support.- Launch facilities.- Mission Control.- Manned Space Flight Network.- The Missions.- Reflections.- Statistical Reference.- Glossary and Acronyms.- Bibliography.- Index.

Richard Orloff is a historian of the Apollo program who, in 2000, compiled a review of the Apollo missions, supplemented by a comprehensive tabular statistical reference.  This was published by NASA and is now out of print.  David Harland is also a space historian who has studied and written extensively about the Apollo program.

From the reviews:



"This book, being a source book, sets out the facts of the Apollo program. … At the end of each chapter, text provides conclusions and objectives that demonstrate the value added. As well, chapters finish with a brief selection of relevant black and white photographs. From these, the reader has an excellent ready referral to each of the Apollo missions. … This book is ideal for readers who want a ready reference on the events and timelines of the Apollo missions." (Mark Mortimer, www.universetoday.com, January, 2007)

"This massive 663-page book is an invaluable record of the exact times of all the significant events in the Apollo programme … . A unique feature is that the specific objectives for each flight are carefully listed, with a record of whether or not each was achieved. … historians will get value for money." (Reglnald Turnhill, Astronomy Now, January, 2007)

"Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook is designed to provide a comprehensive reference for facts about Apollo. … the authors turned to original documents, some of which were previously unavailable to the public. This book provides a complete overview of the entire Apollo program including its origins, a detailed narrative about individual missions, tables listing facts and figures for each mission, and a comprehensive statistical reference of the program." (Quest, Vol. 13 (3), 2006)

"A sort of trainspotter’s guide to the Apollo missions, this very useful book brings together extensive facts and figures for each mission … . This truly is the best reference work on Apollo that’s been published to date, and no library of books on Apollo can be complete without this book. It is unreservedly recommended!" (David Maclennan, Liftoff, Issue 238, 2007)

“For those of you with a keen interest in the Apollo Project, this book provides all the facts and figures you could want in one place. … each flight is fully covered and has a set of tables