Concisely and thoughtfully, British historian Poole reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the first photographs taken of Earth from space, and how those amazing images forever changed our view of the planet, the universe and humanity. The tightly scheduled 1968 Apollo 8
mission was focused on the first lunar orbit, but “Earthrise”—the image of a cloudy blue Earth rising over a starkly monochromatic lunar surface—stunned everyone. Astronaut Frank Borman called it “the most beautiful, heart-catching sight of my life.” NASA, at the forefront of the “astrofuturist” movement that saw humanity’s future out among the stars, was unprepared for the paradoxical reaction “Earthrise” provoked. Rather than turning people’s eyes on a future in space, it refocused them on Earth. For many astronauts, says Poole, the sight “hit with the force of a religious experience,” which echoed throughout the world. Fifteen months later came the first Earth Day and the start of an “eco-renaissance” devoted to preserving and protecting “Spaceship Earth.” Drawing on historical reports and interviews, Poole smartly delineates the philosophical, spiritual and environmental impact of the photo that reminded humankind of the beauty and fragility of Earth. Photos. (Nov.)
