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

"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 Month8:36 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.

Details e-book Across the Airless Wilds

🗸 Author(s): Earl Swift
🗸 Title: Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings
🗸 Rating : 4.6 from 5 stars (297 reviews)
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle

Readers' opinions about Across the Airless Wilds by Earl Swift

Landon Pollard
Immerse yourself in a captivating romance novel that sweeps readers off their feet with its tale of forbidden love and passionate desire. Set against the backdrop of a lush tropical paradise, the story follows two star-crossed lovers as they navigate the complexities of their forbidden relationship. With its evocative prose and steamy romance, this book is guaranteed to set hearts racing.

Lucy Rose
Discover the secrets of successful entrepreneurship with this insightful guide to starting and growing a business. Packed with practical advice and real-world examples, the author shares invaluable wisdom gleaned from years of experience in the business world. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to build a successful venture.

Harlee Charles
This captivating novel weaves together history and romance in a sweeping saga of love and loss set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe. As the world is torn apart by conflict, the lives of the protagonists are forever changed by the tumultuous events of the time. With its vivid imagery and poignant storytelling, this book is a moving tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.

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