UNCHARTED TERRITORY WEEK: Apollo 11

TITLE: Neil, Buzz, and Mike Go to the Moon

AUTHOR (and illustrator): Richard Hilliard

WHAT TERRITORY WAS EXPLORED AND WHEN? Humans stepped on the moon for the first time on July 20, 1969.

WHO DID THE EXPLORING? Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were the first astronauts to fly to the moon. Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon, while Collins orbited it.

HOW WAS THE TRIP? This book describes how training evolved for these three astronauts who all started out as pilots in the U.S. military. When they were accepted into the NASA astronaut program they became members of the Mercury Project, which gave them practice controlling a capsule in outer space. Then this trio had to go through project Gemini, which gave them experience working and walking in space. These were followed by the Apollo program which had 17 missions. But, of course, this book focuses on Apollo 11, from it’s liftoff to it’s moon landing and then it’s Pacific splashdown.

WHAT WAS GAINED? Besides a collection of lunar rocks, soil and dust, a better sense of how humans can perform in space was gained. Back on Earth, American pride swelled with the knowledge that great minds working together were capable of accomplishing such an astonishing feat.

This book is illustrated with nice paintings and includes sidebars with more information.

Ages 4-9
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Activity: www.nasa.gov offers a fun interactive site called Nasa Kids' Club.