Operation Moonglow
A Political History of Project Apollo
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4.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
The moon landing was an important moment in history, but many forget what was happening behind the scenes -- discover the groundbreaking political history of the Apollo program in this riveting exploration of America's space missions.
Since July 1969, Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon has represented the pinnacle of American space exploration and a grand scientific achievement. Yet, as Smithsonian curator Teasel Muir-Harmony argues in Operation Moonglow, its primary purpose wasn't advancing science. Rather, it was part of a political strategy to build a global coalition. Starting with President John F. Kennedy's 1961 decision to send astronauts to the Moon to promote American "freedom" over Soviet "tyranny," Project Apollo was central to American foreign relations. From that perspective, the critical event did not just take place on the lunar surface, it took place in homes, public squares, palaces, and schools around the world, as Apollo captured global attention like never before. After the Moon landing, the Apollo astronauts and President Richard Nixon traveled the world to amplify the sense of participation and global unity shared by billions of people who followed the flight.
Drawing on a rich array of untapped archives and firsthand interviews with Apollo astronauts, Operation Moonglow paints a riveting picture of the intersection of spaceflight, geopolitics, propaganda, and diplomacy during the Cold War.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Historian Muir-Harmony (Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects) digs deep into the archives of the U.S. space program to illuminate the U.S.-Soviet contest to reach the moon first and win global prestige. The narrative traces how, from the Eisenhower to Nixon administrations, the American government focused on the space program as a valuable propaganda tool in the Cold War. As the space race progressed, the United States Information Agency used American accomplishments in space to present an inspirational image of the U.S. abroad as a way to counteract widespread disapproval of the nation's handling of civil rights and the Vietnam War. With government strategists keen to avoid having the program perceived as militaristic, particularly in postcolonial nations the Soviet Union was keen to turn against the U.S., "the use of military uniforms or titles by US officials, even during the Mercury flights , was prohibited." The ambitious initiative ended in triumph, with 1969's "Giantstep" tour, which sent Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins around the world following the moon landing. Muir-Harmony also credits the Apollo program, through the worldwide attention it generated, for helping to propel the onset of cultural globalization through "its far-reaching circulation of icons and images." Readers will find this to be an impressive example of what well-executed government policy can achieve.
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