2007 Sibert Medal Winner

"This excellent book will walk the reader step by step through man's first landing on the moon. With photos and text, Catherine Thimmesh accurately portrays the accomplishments of those 'unsung heroes,' the mission control team that assured success of Apollo 11."
—James A. Lovell, astronaut, Apollo 8, Apollo 13, Gemini 7, and Gemini 12

Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators.

Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team ever—the team that worked to first put man on that great gray rock in the sky.