This book is a collective effort on the part of many of the NASA flight controllers who "manned" the front row of consoles in Mission Control during the preeminent days of America's Manned Spaceflight Program. These controllers were the singular group in Mission Control Houston that was formed to work as a team. They were known as The TRENCH. In that same team spirit, this book about them and by them has been a collective endeavor. They have contributed their own mini autobiographies of life events that shaped their character and their roles and contributions that carried Man to the moon.

“While Catherine Cox and I were writing Apollo, Jerry Bostick was one of a handful of people who became our go-to sources—the men who made the Apollo days come alive again. What great news that Jerry is now telling his story in all the detail that it deserves. It will be an indispensable source for future generations who want to understand that historic era.” Charles Murray, co-author, Apollo When author Jerry Bostick was eight years old, his family had indoor plumbing installed in their home. He thought they were living in the lap of luxury. In The Kid from Golden, Bostick shares his life story beginning with his birth in June of 1939 in that house in Golden, Mississippi. This memoir narrates a chronological rendering of Bostick’s family and memories and tells about his many accomplishments. The Kid from Golden discusses his early years growing up in rural Mississippi; to serving as a page in the US House of Representatives; to attending college; and working at NASA Mission Control during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs, Grumman Aerospace and United Space Alliance. Offering an insightful encapsulation of his career and personal life and the lessons learned throughout, Bostick dedicates The Kid from Golden to his grandchildren. He documents his stories and memories for the benefit of future generations.

This book is a collective effort on the part of many of the NASA flight controllers who "manned" the front row of consoles in Mission Control during the preeminent days of America's Manned Spaceflight Program. These controllers were the singular group in Mission Control Houston that was formed to work as a team. They were known as The TRENCH. In that same team spirit, this book about them and by them has been a collective endeavor. They have contributed their own mini autobiographies of life events that shaped their character and their roles and contributions that carried Man to the moon.

This book describes the history of this now iconic room which represents America’s space program during the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz and early Space Shuttle eras. It is now a National Historic Landmark and is being restored to a level which represents the day the flight control teams walked out after the last lunar landing missions. The book is dedicated to the estimated 3,000 men and women who supported the flights and tells the story from their perspective. It describes the rooms of people supporting this control center; those rooms of engineers, analysts and scientists most people never knew about. Some called it a “shrine” and some called it a “cathedral.” Now it will be restored to its former glory and soon thousands will be able to view the place where America flew to the moon.

Discusses the historic moment in 1969 when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, the major events that led up to this mission, and the advancements that have been made in space exploration from the Mercury missions to the present day.

The author, flight director in NASA's Mission Control, tells of the challenges in space flight from the very early years to the current time and of "his own bold suggestions about what we ought to be doing in space now."--Jacket.

At first glance, it looks like just another auditorium in just another government building. But among the talented men (and later women) who worked in mission control, the room located on the third floor of Building 30--at what is now Johnson Space Center--would become known by many as "the Cathedral." These members of the space program were the brightest of their generations, making split-second decisions that determined the success or failure of a mission. The flight controllers, each supported by a staff of specialists, were the most visible part of the operation, running the missions, talking to the heavens, troubleshooting issues on board, and, ultimately, attempting to bring everyone safely back home. None of NASA's storied accomplishments would have been possible without these people. Interviews with dozens of individuals who worked in the historic third-floor mission control room bring the compelling stories to life. Go, Flight! is a real-world reminder of where we have been and where we could go again given the right political and social climate.

This is the story of the work of the original NASA space pioneers; men and women who were suddenly organized in 1958 from the then National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) into the Space Task Group. A relatively small group, they developed the initial mission concept plans and procedures for the U. S. space program. Then they boldly built hardware and facilities to accomplish those missions. The group existed only three years before they were transferred to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, in 1962, but their organization left a large mark on what would follow.Von Ehrenfried's personal experience with the STG at Langley uniquely positions him to describe the way the group was structured and how it reacted to the new demands of a post-Sputnik era. He artfully analyzes how the growing space program was managed and what techniques enabled it to develop so quickly from an operations perspective. The result is a fascinating window into history, amply backed up by first person documentation and interviews.

On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, renowned psychologist Richard Wiseman reveals the powerful life lessons behind humanity's greatest achievement. The historic moon landings were achieved against remarkable odds and within the space of just a few years. How can we apply the secrets of this astronomical success to our own goals, to achieve the impossible in work and in life? Psychologist Richard Wiseman brings together history, psychology, and self-help in this unique and powerful guide to achieving the impossible in work and in life. The result of intensive research, including interviews with surviving members of the Apollo mission-control team, Moonshot delivers eight key lessons on teamwork, leadership, persistence, creativity, and more, each one a vital part of the mindset for success. Filled with never-before-told stories and fresh insights, Moonshot sheds new light on the science of success--and empowers each of us to achieve the impossible.

Thousands of workers labored at Kennedy Space Center around the clock, seven days a week, for half a year to prepare a mission for the liftoff of Apollo 11. This is the story of what went on during those hectic six months. Countdown to a Moon Launch provides an in-depth look at the carefully choreographed workflow for an Apollo mission at KSC. Using the Apollo 11 mission as an example, readers will learn what went on day by day to transform partially completed stages and crates of parts into a ready-to-fly Saturn V. Firsthand accounts of launch pad accidents, near misses, suspected sabotage, and last-minute changes to hardware are told by more than 70 NASA employees and its contractors. A companion to Rocket Ranch, it includes many diagrams and photographs, some never before published, to illustrate all aspects of the process. NASA’s groundbreaking use of computers for testing and advanced management techniques are also covered in detail. This book will demystify the question of how NASA could build and launch Apollo missions using 1960s technology. You’ll discover that there was no magic involved – just an abundance of discipline, willpower, and creativity.