Rocket Men audiobook cover - The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon

Rocket Men

The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon

Robert Kurson

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Categories:
Biography & MemoirScience

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Rocket Men
Space Race Context+
1968: A Divided America+
Mission Objectives+
The 4-Month Rush+
The Apollo 8 Crew+
Technical Feats & Risks+
Unwavering Support+
Enduring Legacy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What primary motivation drove the United States to rapidly accelerate its space program in the late 1950s and early 1960s?
  • A. The desire to discover new geological resources on the moon.
  • B. The ideological and technological rivalry with the Soviet Union, highlighted by the launch of Sputnik.
  • C. A mandate from the United Nations to establish an international space station.
  • D. The need to distract the American public from the ongoing Vietnam War.
Question 2 of 8
Why was the Apollo 8 mission considered particularly significant for the American public in 1968?
  • A. It marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of US-Soviet space cooperation.
  • B. It was seen as a much-needed unifying historical endeavor during a year marred by war, riots, and assassinations.
  • C. It successfully diverted all media attention away from the civil rights movement.
  • D. It was the first space mission to include a diverse crew of international astronauts.
Question 3 of 8
What was the specific, calculated goal of the Apollo 8 mission regarding its proximity to the moon?
  • A. To land safely in the Sea of Tranquility and collect geological samples.
  • B. To orbit exactly 69 miles above the lunar surface to lay the groundwork for future landing missions.
  • C. To fly past the moon and immediately return to Earth without entering lunar orbit.
  • D. To deploy an unmanned satellite that would map the far side of the moon.
Question 4 of 8
What external factor forced NASA to compress the preparation time for Apollo 8 into a mere four months?
  • A. Intelligence reports indicating the Soviets were very close to launching their own manned flight around the moon.
  • B. The impending expiration of NASA's federal funding at the end of the fiscal year.
  • C. A sudden change in presidential administration demanding immediate results.
  • D. The discovery of a narrow launch window that would not open again for a decade.
Question 5 of 8
How did the crew of Apollo 8 contrast with the astronauts of the preceding Apollo 7 mission?
  • A. The Apollo 8 crew lacked practical spaceflight experience, while Apollo 7's crew were veteran pilots.
  • B. The Apollo 8 crew focused solely on science, whereas Apollo 7 focused on military objectives.
  • C. The Apollo 8 crew maintained high professionalism and teamwork, unlike the Apollo 7 crew who became insubordinate and frustrated.
  • D. The Apollo 8 crew was motivated entirely by financial bonuses, while Apollo 7 flew for national pride.
Question 6 of 8
Why was the Lunar Orbital Insertion (LOI) maneuver considered one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the mission?
  • A. It required the astronauts to manually steer the spacecraft using only visual landmarks on the moon.
  • B. It had to be executed while the spacecraft was behind the moon, completely cutting off communication with Earth.
  • C. The maneuver relied on a newly designed heat shield that had never been tested in a vacuum.
  • D. It involved docking with a separate lunar module while traveling at maximum speed.
Question 7 of 8
What did Susan Borman’s coded message, "The custard is in the oven at three fifty," signify during the mission?
  • A. A pre-arranged signal that the mission control systems were functioning nominally.
  • B. A secret message indicating that the international media had left the astronauts' families alone.
  • C. An assurance to her husband that everything was fine at home so he could focus entirely on the mission.
  • D. A warning that there were technical anomalies detected in the spacecraft's life support systems.
Question 8 of 8
What were the two enduring cultural achievements of the Apollo 8 mission that changed humanity's perspective of Earth?
  • A. The discovery of water on the moon and the first live television interview from space.
  • B. The "Earthrise" photograph and the crew's unifying Christmas Eve broadcast reading from the Bible.
  • C. The planting of the American flag on the lunar surface and the playing of the national anthem.
  • D. The successful testing of the Saturn V rocket and the safe recovery of the command module in the ocean.

Rocket Men — Full Chapter Overview

Rocket Men Summary & Overview

Rocket Men (2018) tells the riveting story of Apollo 8, the moon mission that put the United States ahead of the Soviet Union in the Space Race. In 1968, NASA chose to risk everything. They had to beat the Soviets to the moon, and they had just four months to do it.

Who Should Listen to Rocket Men?

  • Amateur astronomers
  • Space-exploration enthusiasts
  • People with an interest in politics and social issues of the 1960s

About the Author: Robert Kurson

Robert Kurson is an award-winning writer whose work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone and Esquire.

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