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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

"Moondust" - New Astronaut book out!

I always like space accounts, and this one sounds good.

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(Aug 15, 2005): The new book "Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth" shows how the Apollo program changed the lives of the astronauts who walked on the Moon. This leap to another world also colored our perception of what it means to be stuck on Earth.

The following is an excerpt from "Moondust: In Search of the Men who Fell to Earth," due to be published on August 16, 2005. This excerpt appears with permission by HarperCollins Publishers.

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"Flying six months after Apollo 11, in December 1969, the Apollo 12 crew of (Dick) Gordon, commander Pete Conrad and Lunar Module pilot Alan Bean loved each other, really loved each other, like brothers. They drove matching gold Corvettes, which Conrad got them a deal on, and they always gave the impression that while what they were doing was important and dangerous, it was also fabulous. And fun. Even thirty years after, an acquaintance who spent time with them just before Conrad's freak death on that motorcycle describes the closeness of soul mates.

Some had expected that Apollo 12 would be the first mission to land on the Moon and there must be a little part of everyone involved that wishes gap-toothed, wise-ass, super-smart Pete Conrad could have been the first human to set foot on it and that his modest and engaging crew, who carried none of the darkness we'll find in Apollo 11, could have been our eyes and ears there. Still, where Armstrong got to be the first one to stand on another celestial body, Conrad has the more joyous distinction of being the first to fall over on one. By all accounts, he was one of a kind.

Gordon and Conrad had roomed together when they were flying carriers in the Navy. They'd also been in space before, aboard Gemini 11 in September 1966, during which Gordon became the fourth American to walk in space, an experience which, under favorable circumstances, seems as moving as an astronaut can have, like being born a second time. That wasn't Gordon's experience, though.

More here: www.astrobio.net/news/article1680.html

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When I saw "From the Earth to the Moon", I thought the camaraderie between the astronauts of Apollo 12 was quite cool, and this re-affirms the close relationship of trio.

Me thinks I'll get it!... ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I did it.

I went to Amazon, placed my order and I
should receive "Moondust" in about 3 days.

Quite excited about it...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I got it...It came today!!

Working at the computer at 10:00 am and it's already warm, I hear this thunk on my front porch, and it's a box with Amazon label on it. Dang...My copy of "Moondust" is here!

The cover has the appearance of astronaut trading cards and 350 pages. ;D

I read the first few pages just now, and already I'm grinning on what I have read. The book is about the 12 men who walked on the Moon, but more about their lives after they return back home. There is a lament when Conrad dies, that it is recognized that now there are only 9 people alive who have experienced a lunar walk.

It goes on about how many of the returning astronauts became jaded and the horror of realization that their epic voyage was the highlight of their lives. What else can top it? Alcoholism, broken marriages and other problems haunted the astronauts, but Shepard...he actuall mellowed out! On how many left NASA, disappointed with the organization, and very critical of the poor design of the Shuttle.

I'm going to take this with me to the Chicago Air show this weekend, and catch a few pages in between fly overs. More after I read it.

I'm am quite pleased on this purchase, and Amazon came through in THREE days! Wow!... ;D

Oh...and I shaved off my mustache too!