My mom read me "You Will Go to the Moon" during the months leading up to Apollo 11 and I revisited the book many times in elementary school as I awaited (and still await) spinning artificial gravity space stations. As I scrolled through your article, each image from the book popped out at me -- exactly as I had remembered. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
Thank you for sharing. This is one of the main reasons I write these articles. If I can stir people's memories of what inspired them as kids, I know I have done my job.
What a nice blast from the past! I don't recall the story/book but it reminded me of all the other stuff I read starting when Gemini/Titan 1 first came to the medias' attention. This stuff was inspiring just as this book shows to be for that age range.
My first Gemini experience was a PM news story on the TV which mentioned our "new spacecraft" and that it would carry two astronauts. Then Gemini/Titan 2 and FINALLY G/T 3 with Gus and John and 1 corned beef sandwich! Thanks Dave!!
Another great motivator were the photos coming back from Ranger, Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor. It was maddening to see those Surveyor images and no way to look behind "that" rock or over the horizon! Where are the wheels?!! LOL! Where are the APOLLO boys?
Thanks for another terrific post. I admire how you weave the story and illustrations from the book together with the actual scientific advances and aspirations of that time. When I was 10 it was the beginning of the post-Apollo, pre-Shuttle era, and it's been half a century to get back to where we seem to have been then. Doing my best to hang on to see what real advances we can make now.
Thank you, James. This one was fun to write in part because of all the "dreams come true" that emerged as I went through the book. It has taken a while, though, hasn't it?
It is an impressive children’s book - simply written but with many scientific insights. It makes me wonder what people 50 years from now will think of our current science themed children’s books. Hopefully there will be many good advances by then. Emphasis on “good.”
Great essay, chap. I have a copy of a Willy Ley collection of essays from 1956-1958 (with a cover by Chesley Bonestell) and in essay, entitled “Anyone for Space Cadet?”, he outlines the kind of skills and education that his Davey (“Johnnie”) should have, for a career in astronautics. Made me very happy that he closed out the essay:
“And if little Gloria chimes in and wants to know, ‘Why not girls?’, the answer is: ‘No reason why not, except, perhaps, custom’”
Took a while to overcome that custom, but we eventually did.
Thank you, Martin. Regarding Ley's comment, I found it refreshing that the Artemis II crew were downplaying their "firsts" that had to do with gender and race. Their message was consistent that we are all "humans" and ought to think of ourselves in a more unified way. If that message gets through to more people, then I think it will be more valuable than any scientific discoveries or technological advancements that may be made by the program.
What a treasure! It's really fascinating to see what this book from 1959 got right and wrong about spaceflight as it actually developed, as well as other concepts that were futuristic both then and now. We sure were optimistic back then!
Those early Space Age days surely did seem to be full of dreams and possibilities. When I started writing the article, I hadn't expected to find so many predictions that had come true. My hope is that the Artemis missions will re-ignite those passions in those of us who remember those days, and spark new dreams in the younger minds of today.
Impressive. And intriguing about the previous owner of the book. I found it poignant when you said Little Davey would have been 19 in 1968. Vietnam came to mind. I hope he made it through.
My mom read me "You Will Go to the Moon" during the months leading up to Apollo 11 and I revisited the book many times in elementary school as I awaited (and still await) spinning artificial gravity space stations. As I scrolled through your article, each image from the book popped out at me -- exactly as I had remembered. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
Thank you for sharing. This is one of the main reasons I write these articles. If I can stir people's memories of what inspired them as kids, I know I have done my job.
What a nice blast from the past! I don't recall the story/book but it reminded me of all the other stuff I read starting when Gemini/Titan 1 first came to the medias' attention. This stuff was inspiring just as this book shows to be for that age range.
My first Gemini experience was a PM news story on the TV which mentioned our "new spacecraft" and that it would carry two astronauts. Then Gemini/Titan 2 and FINALLY G/T 3 with Gus and John and 1 corned beef sandwich! Thanks Dave!!
Another great motivator were the photos coming back from Ranger, Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor. It was maddening to see those Surveyor images and no way to look behind "that" rock or over the horizon! Where are the wheels?!! LOL! Where are the APOLLO boys?
Thanks for sharing, Bob. I can always count on you for some insightful space-memory driven comments.
Thanks for another terrific post. I admire how you weave the story and illustrations from the book together with the actual scientific advances and aspirations of that time. When I was 10 it was the beginning of the post-Apollo, pre-Shuttle era, and it's been half a century to get back to where we seem to have been then. Doing my best to hang on to see what real advances we can make now.
Thank you, James. This one was fun to write in part because of all the "dreams come true" that emerged as I went through the book. It has taken a while, though, hasn't it?
It is an impressive children’s book - simply written but with many scientific insights. It makes me wonder what people 50 years from now will think of our current science themed children’s books. Hopefully there will be many good advances by then. Emphasis on “good.”
Great essay, chap. I have a copy of a Willy Ley collection of essays from 1956-1958 (with a cover by Chesley Bonestell) and in essay, entitled “Anyone for Space Cadet?”, he outlines the kind of skills and education that his Davey (“Johnnie”) should have, for a career in astronautics. Made me very happy that he closed out the essay:
“And if little Gloria chimes in and wants to know, ‘Why not girls?’, the answer is: ‘No reason why not, except, perhaps, custom’”
Took a while to overcome that custom, but we eventually did.
Thank you, Martin. Regarding Ley's comment, I found it refreshing that the Artemis II crew were downplaying their "firsts" that had to do with gender and race. Their message was consistent that we are all "humans" and ought to think of ourselves in a more unified way. If that message gets through to more people, then I think it will be more valuable than any scientific discoveries or technological advancements that may be made by the program.
What a treasure! It's really fascinating to see what this book from 1959 got right and wrong about spaceflight as it actually developed, as well as other concepts that were futuristic both then and now. We sure were optimistic back then!
Those early Space Age days surely did seem to be full of dreams and possibilities. When I started writing the article, I hadn't expected to find so many predictions that had come true. My hope is that the Artemis missions will re-ignite those passions in those of us who remember those days, and spark new dreams in the younger minds of today.
Impressive. And intriguing about the previous owner of the book. I found it poignant when you said Little Davey would have been 19 in 1968. Vietnam came to mind. I hope he made it through.
Oh my! I hadn’t thought of that. 😳