Publisher's Synopsis
Award-winning science writer Rod Pyle profiles the remarkable pilots, scientists, and engineers whose work was instrumental in space missions to every corner of our solar system and beyond. Besides heralded names like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Gene Kranz, the author highlights some of the "hidden figures" who played crucial roles in the success of NASA, Soviet, and international space exploration. For example, Joe Engle, was a daring test pilot who set multiple records in the dangerous X-15 rocket plane and later commanded the space shuttle three times. Joe Houbolt was an engineer who convinced NASA leadership that the most effective way to land on the moon was to use a lunar module that could be detached from and reattached to the main space capsule. Margaret Hamilton was an accomplished mathematician and one of the first software engineers to design programs for Apollo missions, software that proved critical to the success of the moon landing. And Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to travel into space aboard Soviet spacecraft Vostok 6 Complemented by many rarely-seen photos and illustrations, these stories of the highly talented and dedicated people, many behind the scenes, will fascinate and inspire.
