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Operation moonglow : a political history of Project Apollo / Teasel Muir-Harmony.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Basic Books, 2020Copyright date: ©2020Edition: First editionDescription: xiv, 367 pages : illustrations ; 25 cmContent type:
  • text
  • still image
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781541699878
  • 1541699874
Subject(s):
Contents:
Introduction: Moonrise -- The launch of the space race, 1946-1957 -- Sputnik and the politics of spaceflight, 1957 -- A space program for all humankind, 1958-1960 -- If we are to win the battle, 1960-1961 -- John Glenn and Friendship 7's "fourth orbit," 1961-1963 -- "The new explorers," 1963-1967 -- "Riders on the Earth together," 1968-1969 -- Making Apollo 11 for all humankind, 1969 -- One giant leap, July 16-July 24, 1969 -- Operation Moonglow, August 1969 -- Giantstep: the Apollo 11 diplomatic tour, 1969 -- Afterglow.
Summary: "On July 20th, 1969, over half of the world's population tuned in to witness the first lunar landing, waiting with bated breath as Neil Armstrong ventured outside the cabin door of Apollo 11 and declared "that's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." As the most expensive civilian scientific and technological program in American history, Project Apollo symbolized the unmatched prestige of American space exploration. Yet despite appearances, the project was never just about winning the Space Race, advancing scientific progress, or even conquering the final frontier. Instead, the ambitions of Project Apollo would ultimately reveal that the American government was more interested in establishing its superiority much closer to home. In Operation Moonglow, Smithsonian curator Teasel Muir-Harmony explores how and why the moon landing became one of the most decisive geopolitical events of the 20th century. In the wake of the Soviet Union's pioneering launch of Sputnik in 1957 and a humiliating defeat at the Bay of Pigs four years later, President John F. Kennedy approached a budget-wary Congress with Project Apollo, an unconventional proposal that had the potential to restore America's tarnished geopolitical standing. With Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States approaching an all-time high, Kennedy argued that ramping up the space program would inspire global confidence in American excellence -- and might even persuade people in developing countries to pick American "freedom" over Soviet "tyranny." Following the successful return of Apollo 11, its illustrious crew embarked on a diplomatic tour around the world, celebrating the mission as an accomplishment for all of humanity. Meanwhile, the accompanying American officials used the trip as an opportunity to conduct secret meetings with influential heads of state, leveraging the space program's global popularity to advance American values and interests. More than just a history of spaceships, astronauts, and moon rocks, Operation Moonglow is a history of geopolitical maneuvering, of propaganda and public diplomacy, and -- above all -- of the intricate relationship between scientific innovation and national identity. Featuring first-hand accounts by Apollo astronauts, original interviews with USIA and NASA staff, and never-before-seen archival materials, Operation Moonglow is the definitive account of the Apollo mission -- and a fascinating look at how the Space Race shaped the contours of globalization and global interdependence"-- Provided by publisher.Summary: On July 20th, 1969, over half of the world's population tuned in to witness the first lunar landing, watching as Neil Armstrong ventured outside the cabin door of Apollo 11 and declared "that's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." As the most expensive civilian scientific and technological program in American history, Project Apollo symbolized the unmatched prestige of American space exploration. But the project was never just about winning the Space Race, advancing scientific progress, or even conquering the final frontier: the American government was more interested in establishing its superiority much closer to home. Muir-Harmony explores how and why the moon landing became one of the most decisive geopolitical events of the 20th century, an unconventional proposal that had the potential to restore America's tarnished geopolitical standing. -- adapted from jacket
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 629.454 M953 Checked out 07/22/2024 33111010440218
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The moon landing was an important moment in history, but many forget what was happening behind the scenes -- discover the groundbreaking political history of the Apollo program in this riveting exploration of America's space missions.
Since July 1969, Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon has represented the pinnacle of American space exploration and a grand scientific achievement. Yet, as Smithsonian curator Teasel Muir-Harmony argues in Operation Moonglow , its primary purpose wasn't advancing science. Rather, it was part of a political strategy to build a global coalition. Starting with President John F. Kennedy's 1961 decision to send astronauts to the Moon to promote American "freedom" over Soviet "tyranny," Project Apollo was central to American foreign relations. From that perspective, the critical event did not just take place on the lunar surface, it took place in homes, public squares, palaces, and schools around the world, as Apollo captured global attention like never before. After the Moon landing, the Apollo astronauts and President Richard Nixon traveled the world to amplify the sense of participation and global unity shared by billions of people who followed the flight.
Drawing on a rich array of untapped archives and firsthand interviews with Apollo astronauts, Operation Moonglow paints a riveting picture of the intersection of spaceflight, geopolitics, propaganda, and diplomacy during the Cold War.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-350) and index.

Introduction: Moonrise -- The launch of the space race, 1946-1957 -- Sputnik and the politics of spaceflight, 1957 -- A space program for all humankind, 1958-1960 -- If we are to win the battle, 1960-1961 -- John Glenn and Friendship 7's "fourth orbit," 1961-1963 -- "The new explorers," 1963-1967 -- "Riders on the Earth together," 1968-1969 -- Making Apollo 11 for all humankind, 1969 -- One giant leap, July 16-July 24, 1969 -- Operation Moonglow, August 1969 -- Giantstep: the Apollo 11 diplomatic tour, 1969 -- Afterglow.

"On July 20th, 1969, over half of the world's population tuned in to witness the first lunar landing, waiting with bated breath as Neil Armstrong ventured outside the cabin door of Apollo 11 and declared "that's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." As the most expensive civilian scientific and technological program in American history, Project Apollo symbolized the unmatched prestige of American space exploration. Yet despite appearances, the project was never just about winning the Space Race, advancing scientific progress, or even conquering the final frontier. Instead, the ambitions of Project Apollo would ultimately reveal that the American government was more interested in establishing its superiority much closer to home. In Operation Moonglow, Smithsonian curator Teasel Muir-Harmony explores how and why the moon landing became one of the most decisive geopolitical events of the 20th century. In the wake of the Soviet Union's pioneering launch of Sputnik in 1957 and a humiliating defeat at the Bay of Pigs four years later, President John F. Kennedy approached a budget-wary Congress with Project Apollo, an unconventional proposal that had the potential to restore America's tarnished geopolitical standing. With Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States approaching an all-time high, Kennedy argued that ramping up the space program would inspire global confidence in American excellence -- and might even persuade people in developing countries to pick American "freedom" over Soviet "tyranny." Following the successful return of Apollo 11, its illustrious crew embarked on a diplomatic tour around the world, celebrating the mission as an accomplishment for all of humanity. Meanwhile, the accompanying American officials used the trip as an opportunity to conduct secret meetings with influential heads of state, leveraging the space program's global popularity to advance American values and interests. More than just a history of spaceships, astronauts, and moon rocks, Operation Moonglow is a history of geopolitical maneuvering, of propaganda and public diplomacy, and -- above all -- of the intricate relationship between scientific innovation and national identity. Featuring first-hand accounts by Apollo astronauts, original interviews with USIA and NASA staff, and never-before-seen archival materials, Operation Moonglow is the definitive account of the Apollo mission -- and a fascinating look at how the Space Race shaped the contours of globalization and global interdependence"-- Provided by publisher.

On July 20th, 1969, over half of the world's population tuned in to witness the first lunar landing, watching as Neil Armstrong ventured outside the cabin door of Apollo 11 and declared "that's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." As the most expensive civilian scientific and technological program in American history, Project Apollo symbolized the unmatched prestige of American space exploration. But the project was never just about winning the Space Race, advancing scientific progress, or even conquering the final frontier: the American government was more interested in establishing its superiority much closer to home. Muir-Harmony explores how and why the moon landing became one of the most decisive geopolitical events of the 20th century, an unconventional proposal that had the potential to restore America's tarnished geopolitical standing. -- adapted from jacket

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