Earthrise My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut

“In Earthrise, Edgar Mitchell treats us to a firsthand account of his life—a trajectory that just happens to include a visit to the Moon as an Apollo 14 astronaut. We learn how such views of the universe have the power to transform your feelings, your emotions, and your state of mind. Edgar Mitchell was a different person upon returning to Earth, having obtained a cosmic perspective on life that so few of us will ever achieve.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History

Recollections from the sixth man to ever walk on the Moon, for young adult readers.

On February 5, 1971, Edgar Mitchell jumped off the last rungs of a ladder connecting him to NASA’s Antares spacecraft and landed with two feet on the Moon. Following the disastrous Apollo 13 mission, Mitchell was one of three astronauts to successfully complete the Apollo 14 journey to the Moon, though it wasn’t without its own alarming moments.

In Earthrise, Edgar recalls his spectacular trip to the Moon and the life experiences that got him there, including his early days spent in Roswell, New Mexico, amid nuclear testing and the rumored UFO crash; his first solo airplane flight as a young teen; his time as a navy combat pilot; and becoming a NASA astronaut. With fascinating detail, Edgar describes what it was like to launch into space and land on the Moon, illuminating everything from the practical—eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom in space—to the mystical, life-changing experience of gazing at Earth from afar.

With illuminating sidebars, transcripts of NASA recordings from the historic Apollo 14 mission, and extensive resources including lists of space-related websites, museums, organizations, films, and books, Earthrise is an invaluable addition to any space, astronomy, or science buff’s bookshelf.

Contents

Foreword by Dr. Brian Cox

Introduction: Trouble on the Far Side           

1. From Big Skies to Buck Rogers

2. Barnstormers, Flying Machines, and UFOs

3. Spreading My Wings

4. NASA Here We Come

5. Getting There

6. A Super Long Shot

7. The Rocky Road Down

8. A Marvelous Day for a Moonwalk

9. Trek to Cone Crater

10. The Extraordinary Ride Home

11. Expanding Horizons

12. Exploring New Worlds

Key Life Events

Resources to Explore

Websites About Space

Museums and Organizations

Films and Videos

Books for Further Reading

Index

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