Apollo 8: The Mission that Changed Everything

The Apollo 8 mission unfolds within the broader context of history in this expansive photo-filled volume that focuses as much on the journey into space as it does the events unfolding back on Earth. Sandler provides an overview of world events preceding the mission, including the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the space race, and social and political protests. First-person descriptions from the astronauts recount their lift-off, their first viewing of the Earth rising, and their journey to the dark side of the moon. Beyond the vivid minute-by-minute details of the voyage itself, the volume explores the colossal impact of the mission on the American psyche. For many, Sandler explains, the images of Earth from space served as “a symbol of the Earth’s fragility, a reminder of just how small and insignificant the Earth’s place in the universe truly is.” Ages 10–up. (Oct.)