First man : the life of Neil A. Armstrong
On July 20, 1969, the world stood still to watch 38-year-old American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong become the first person ever to step on the surface of another heavenly body. Upon his return to Earth, Armstrong was celebrated for his monumental achievement. He was also--as NASA historian Hansen reveals in this authorized biography--misunderstood. Armstrong's accomplishments as an engineer, a test pilot, and an astronaut have long been a matter of record, but Hansen's access to private documents and unpublished sources and his interviews with more than 125 subjects (including more than fifty hours with Armstrong himself) yield the first in-depth analysis of this elusive, reluctant hero. Hansen recreates Armstrong's flying career, from his combat missions over North Korea to his transatmospheric flights in the rocket-powered X-15 to the first-ever docking in space. For a pilot who cared more about flying to the Moon than he did about walking on it, Hansen asserts, Armstrong's storied vocation exacted a dear personal toll, paid in kind by his wife and children.--From publisher description.
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- ISBN: 9781501153068
- Physical Description 441 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
- Publisher [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 2018.
- Copyright ©2005.
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 395-416) and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | I: An American genesis -- The strong of arm -- The strong of spirit -- II: Tranquility base -- First child -- The virtues of Smallville -- Truth in the air -- Aeronautical engineering 101 -- III: Wings of gold -- Class 5-49 -- Fighter Squadron 51 -- Fate is the hunter -- The ordeal of eagles -- IV: The real right stuff -- The research pilot -- Above the high desert -- At the edge of space -- The worst loss -- Higher resolve -- I've got a secret -- V: No man is an island -- Training days -- In line for command -- Gemini VIII -- The astronaut's wife -- For all America -- VI: Apollo -- Out of the ashes -- Wingless on luna -- Amiable strangers -- First out -- Dialectics of a moon mission -- VII: One giant leap -- Outward bound -- The landing -- One small step -- Return to earth -- For all mankind -- VIII: Dark side of the moon -- Standing ground -- To engineer is human -- The astronaut is icon -- Into the heartland. |
Additional Information
Table of Contents
First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
Section | Section Description | Page Number |
---|---|---|
Preface | p. ix | |
Prologue: The Launch | p. 1 | |
Part 1 | Boy Pilot | |
Chapter 1 | An American Genesis | p. 9 |
Chapter 2 | Smallville | p. 15 |
Chapter 3 | Truth in the Air | p. 21 |
Chapter 4 | Aeronautical Engineering 101 | p. 27 |
Part 2 | Naval Aviator | |
Chapter 5 | Wings of Gold | p. 35 |
Chapter 6 | Fighter Squadron 51 | p. 46 |
Part 3 | Research Pilot | |
Chapter 7 | Above the High Desert | p. 57 |
Chapter 8 | At the Edge of Space | p. 71 |
Chapter 9 | The Worst Loss | p. 81 |
Chapter 10 | Higher Resolve | p. 85 |
Chapter 11 | I've Got a Secret | p. 99 |
Part 4 | Astronaut | |
Chapter 12 | Training Days | p. 107 |
Chapter 13 | In Line for Command | p. 114 |
Chapter 14 | Gemini VIII | p. 121 |
Chapter 15 | The Astronaut's Wife | p. 137 |
Chapter 16 | For All America | p. 144 |
Part 5 | Apollo Commander | |
Chapter 17 | Out of the Ashes | p. 151 |
Chapter 18 | Wingless on Luna | p. 157 |
Chapter 19 | Amiable Strangers | p. 168 |
Chapter 20 | First Out | p. 177 |
Chapter 21 | Dialectics of a Moon Mission | p. 185 |
Part 6 | Moonwalker | |
Chapter 22 | Outward Bound | p. 207 |
Chapter 23 | The Landing | p. 229 |
Chapter 24 | One Small Step | p. 255 |
Chapter 25 | Return to Earth | p. 291 |
Chapter 26 | For All Mankind | p. 317 |
Part 7 | Icon | |
Chapter 27 | Standing Ground | p. 333 |
Chapter 28 | To Engineer Is Human | p. 342 |
Chapter 29 | Dark Side of the Moon | p. 350 |
Chapter 30 | Into the Heartland | p. 363 |
Acknowledgments | p. 391 | |
Bibliography | p. 395 | |
Notes on Sources | p. 417 | |
Index | p. 419 |