eSpotlight – 50th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing


One Giant Leap

Saturday, July 20, is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's moon landing, when Neil Armstrong uttered those now famous words "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I've always been fascinated by NASA's early space program that aimed to fulfill President John F. Kennedy's goal of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" by the end of the 1960s. If you've always wanted to learn more about this fascinating time in US history, we've got you covered with plenty of eBooks and online resources.

eBooks and eAudiobooks

Here are just a few of the eBooks available on history of the early NASA space programs:

Moon Shot by Alan Shepard & Deke SlaytonAmerican Moonshot by Douglas BrinkleyApollo 11: The Moon Landing in Real Time by Ian PassinghamMilestones of Space by Michael J. NeufeldSpaceshots and Snapshots of Projects Mercury and GeminiOf a Fire on the Moon
Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey KlugerFootprints in the DustMoonshots & Snapshots of Project ApolloDigital ApolloThe Apollo Missons by David BakerApollo: A Graphic Guide to Mankind's Greatest Mission by Zack Scott


And how about a look at the women who helped us get to the moon. They may not have walked on the moon, but we wouldn't have made it there without them.

Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia HoltHidden Figures by Margot Lee ShetterlyThe Astronaut Wives ClubA Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne SladeAlmost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee StoneGalaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space


And we've even got some eAudiobooks available:

Failure is Not an OptionNeil Armstrong: A Life of FlightA Man on the Moon by Andrew ChaikinNPR American Chronicles: Exploring SpaceFirst Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. HansenNo Dream is Too High


We choose to go to the moon

You can learn more about the NASA, space exploration, and the missions to the moon using some of the library's excellent eResources. You'll need your library card to log in to access these topics:

In addition to articles, there are some excellent images, videos, and audio available, including John F. Kennedy's "We choose to go the moon" speech at Rice University and a video clip for the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing featuring Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon.

Or if you want to learn more about the astronauts themselves or the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes at NASA, you can find biographies available with our eResources. Here are just a few examples:

For Younger Readers

Here are just a few of the eBooks for young readers looking to learn more about the moon landings and the early space program:

Eight Days GoneTeam Moon by Catherine ThimmeshThe First Men Who Went to the Moon by Rhonda Gowler Greene & Scott BrundageTo the Moon by Jeffrey KlugerMoon Mission by Sigmund Brouwer
The Apollo Missions for Kids by Jerome PohlenMoon LandingWho Was Neil Armstrong?Daring Dozen: The Twelve Who Walked on the Moon by Suzanne SladeEarthrise


Films and Documentaries

In addition to all those great eBooks and eAudiobooks, there are also a few documentaries available from Hoopla:


Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of ApolloDirect From the MoonProject Gemini: Bridge to the MoonApollo 12: UncensoredMoonwalkers: The Men of ApolloApollo 8: Christmas at the Moon

Apollo 13: The Untold Story

The Last Man on the Moon
Bonus Favorites

A few of my favorite books and films aren't available in eBook or eMovie format, but you can request copies to be delivered to the library branch of your choice if you'd like to try any of these as well:

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11The Right Stuff by Tom WolfeRocket Men by Robert KursonFlight: My Life in Mission ControlIn the Shadow of the MoonApollo 13


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