One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon

The New York Times bestselling, "meticulously researched and absorbingly written" (The Washington Post) story of the trailblazers and the ordinary Americans on the front lines of the epic Apollo 11 moon mission. President John F. Kennedy astonished the world in 1961 when he announced that the United States should land a man on the Moon by 1970. NASA had less than a decade to invent space travel, and no one knew how to navigate to the Moon, build a rocket, or build a computer to fly a spaceship there. Over the next decade, 400,000 scientists, engineers, and factory workers would send 24 astronauts to the Moon, requiring one million hours of work back on Earth to get America to the Moon on July 20, 1969. "One Giant Leap" is a sweeping, definitive behind-the-scenes account of the race to complete one of mankind's greatest achievements, filled with surprises and the extraordinary impact Apollo would have on Earth and the way we live today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

President John F. Kennedy's announcement in 1961 challenged the United States to land a man on the Moon by 1970. NASA, faced with the task of inventing space travel in less than a decade, was caught off guard. The journey to the Moon was fraught with uncertainty, as scientists and engineers grappled with the challenges of building a rocket capable of reaching the Moon, developing a computer small enough to navigate a spaceship, and understanding the lunar surface and its potential food sources for astronauts.

On the day of Kennedy's speech, America had a mere fifteen minutes of spaceflight experience, with only five minutes outside the atmosphere. Russian dogs had more time in space than US astronauts. Over the next decade, an incredible effort involving over 400,000 scientists, engineers, and factory workers would send twenty-four astronauts to the Moon. Each hour of space flight required one million hours of work back on Earth to achieve the historic mission of landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

In his book, "One Giant Leap," veteran space reporter Andrew Fishman has crafted a sweeping and definitive account of the race to complete one of mankind's greatest achievements. The book is filled with surprises, from the forgotten item the astronauts almost left behind (the American flag) to the extraordinary impact Apollo would have on the world. Fishman's writing is lively and engaging, with nearly every sentence offering a fact, insight, colorful quote, or poignant anecdote.

Through his meticulous research and captivating storytelling, Fishman brings the reader into the heart of the Apollo 11 mission, providing a detailed account of the challenges faced by the astronauts, the engineers, and the support staff back on Earth. The book sheds light on the personal stories of the astronauts, their families, and the communities that rallied behind them, showcasing the immense pride and determination that drove the mission to success.

"One Giant Leap" is a must-read for anyone interested in space exploration, history, or the human spirit's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It serves as a tribute to the incredible achievements of the Apollo 11 team and the countless individuals who contributed to the mission's success.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 212 x 140 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501106309