List of Illustrations
Foreword
1. The Unmaking of an Ex-Astronaut
2. Doing Well
3. Enemies to Allies
4. The Twelve
5. The Other Twelve
6. Earth Views
7. The Hoax of the Moon Hoax
8. I Never Liked the Space Shuttle
9. So You Want to Be an Astronaut
10. Thoughts after a Moon Voyage
11. Risk and Death
12. The Point of the Space Program
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Poem from the Far Side of the Moon
Index
Al Worden (1932–2020) served as a support crew member for Apollo 9, backup command module pilot for Apollo 12, and command module pilot for Apollo 15’s mission in 1971. After retiring from active duty in 1975, Worden spent years in private industry before becoming the chair of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and traveling the world as head of the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship. He is the author of Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut’s Journey to the Moon. Francis French is a space historian and author of numerous best-selling history books with international experience in relating science, engineering, and astronomy to general audiences. He is the editor of Apollo Pilot: The Memoir of Astronaut Donn Eisele (Nebraska, 2017). Dee O’Hara was one of the first women in the space program, working as an aerospace nurse to the first astronauts beginning in 1959, serving in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs
"Anyone interested in better understanding the Apollo-era
astronauts and their personalities will find this book to be a
fascinating read."-Scott Sacknoff, Quest "The US was the first
country to land a person on the moon. Will it also be the first
country to land a person on Mars? Worden, the command module pilot
for the Apollo 15 mission, provides an answer in his entertaining
memoir, along with many other poignant thoughts and insights.
Worden's opinions about the space program and the people involved
are both candid and unique. . . . At the conclusion of this
heartfelt memoir, space historian Francis French provides a moving
epilogue that serves as an exclamation point to Worden's own
account of his life and accomplishments."-R. I. Saltz, Choice
"The Light of Earth provides a smart analysis of the space program
after the Apollo program."-Arnie Bernstein, New York Journal
of Books "In this enlightening book, Worden gives his refreshingly
candor opinions on the space program, flying to the moon, and the
people involved in the Apollo and later shuttle programs, as well
as sharing hard-hitting reflections on the space shuttle program,
the agonies and extraordinary sights and delights of being a NASA
Apollo astronaut, and the space program's triumphs and
failures."-Jason Schott, Brooklyn Digest “I first met Al
Worden as a fellow young test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base some
fifty-eight years ago. We were both chosen to join the astronaut
corps as members of Group 5, known as the Original 19. Al and I had
various training experiences together for our first year. I
remember Al as being very friendly and outgoing with a raucous,
unmistakable laugh. He made some of our boring sessions
lively.”-Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut
“From the moon to the bohemian midseventies in San Francisco
and right up to his passing in early 2020, reading this book
reminds me of how much Al Worden is still valued and deeply missed.
His candor, bravery, and hilarity here make it seem like he is
still with us.”-Emily Carney, space historian “Al Worden was a
heroic fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut who played a major
role in the exploration of the moon, only to see his career
derailed by circumstances he could not control. Now he asks: what
do you do after you’ve been to the moon? Write poetry? Go into
business? Run for office? With the able assistance of historian
Francis French, Worden tells this poignant tale.”-Michael Cassutt,
space historian and author
“This is a magnificent book for so many reasons: not just in
creating a wonderful postscript to Al Worden’s amazing
life but also in bringing us the man’s deepest and often
unfettered thoughts-especially when discussing his fellow Apollo
astronauts. . . . This is altogether one of the most profound,
poignant, and introspective stories ever set down by an Apollo
astronaut-and probably any American astronaut. Al Worden was a man
with many truths to tell, and they are all in this book.”-Colin
Burgess, space historian
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