NASA Book Chronicles Apollo Missions Through Astronaut Photos

WASHINGTON, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Apollo: Through the Eyes of the
Astronauts" is a new book produced by NASA and Abrams Books that provides a
unique perspective of the historic program that took people to the moon nearly
four decades ago. The publication chronicles Apollo missions 7 through 17
using photographs of the flights selected by each of the surviving Apollo
astronauts.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Between 1967 and 1972, 29 astronauts left Earth to explore the nearest
celestial body, our moon. To celebrate that achievement, NASA and Abrams will
publish "Apollo" in June, in advance of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's
first lunar landing on July 20, 1969.

"Most Americans remember the Apollo astronauts as brave test pilots, engineers
and scientists. However, one could argue that many of these explorers also
were talented artists," said Bob Jacobs, acting assistant administrator for
Public Affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They documented history
while working in a very dangerous and hostile environment, and many of their
images rival the beauty and historic significance of any picture captured by
professional photographers."

"Apollo" features a foreword by Stephen Hawking, bestselling author of "A
Brief History of Time" and the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the
University of Cambridge, England, and his daughter Lucy Hawking, a journalist
and novelist.

"Abrams is thrilled to collaborate with NASA on this book chronicling the
Apollo lunar missions," said Eric Himmel, editor-in-chief, Abrams Books, New
York. "It's especially rewarding to have the participation of the surviving
Apollo astronauts, who, in addition to their other achievements, took some of
the most extraordinary and influential photographs of our time."

The book uses vivid photographs and detailed text to create a visually
compelling and authoritatively written record of a landmark achievement in
human history.

"It will be interesting to see the different perspectives of my Apollo
crewmates," said Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean. His photograph of fellow
astronaut and mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad on the Ocean of Storms
makes up the cover of the new publication. "We all shared a special
experience, but how each individual reflects on that experience is, of course,
different."

Jacobs edited the book in collaboration with colleagues at NASA Headquarters
in Washington: Michael Cabbage, director of News Services; Constance Moore,
head photo researcher; and Bertram Ulrich, curator and multimedia manager.

"We wanted to publish the best of the best of the Apollo photographs and give
the astronauts an opportunity to share with us their memories and experiences
of this historic achievement in exploration," Jacobs added. "We deeply
appreciate their cooperation and dedication."

"Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts" will be available in retail and
online bookstores by early June.

For more information about NASA's Apollo program, including an interactive
feature with select images from the book, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/apollo

For more information about Abrams, visit:

http://www.abramsbooks.com

SOURCE NASA

Stephanie Schierholz of NASA Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-4997,
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov; or Maya Gottfried of Abrams Books, New York,
+1-212-519-1202, mgottfried@abramsbooks.com