Apollo
by Charles A. Murray · first published 1990
73% recommend27% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Engineering-focused history of the Apollo program, drawn from interviews and archives, covering technical problems and decisions from the engineers' and managers' view. For readers curious how big projects ran.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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'Apollo', Charles Murray and Catherine Cox [0] is a terrific book about the engineering and project management of the Apollo program. They don't talk about the software much (if anyone has a suggestion, I'd like…
on “Grace Hopper and Margaret Hamilton Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom” ↗I haven't read either of the books you mentioned, but "Apollo" by Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox is also excellent. From the looks of it, the paperback is hard to find ($125 on Amazon!), but the Kindle edition is only $8.
on “The Apollo 11 Journey in Photographs” ↗Some more recommendations: the book "Apollo" by Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox is really excellent as an overview of everything that it took to get to the moon, as is the HBO mini-series "From The Earth to the Moon"
on “July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind (2013)” ↗I second that recommendation. The book can be found for cheap, plus there's even a kindle version if you prefer that format: http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Charles-Murray/dp/0976000806/
on “July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind (2013)” ↗I would recommend _Apollo_ by Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox. It covers the program from the perspective of the engineers who were involved and the technical problems they had to overcome. The book is currently out of print…
on “Comparing Tech Used for Apollo, Artemis NASA Missions” ↗…particular genre, I have a hard time finding new entries. Does HN have anything of that kind to recommend? Other books I've found so far: - Skunk Works by Ben E. Rich & Leo Janos - The Box by Marc Levinson - Apollo by Charles A Murray & Catherine Bly Cox - The Great Bridge also by David McCullough
on “Ask HN: Biographies of Companies or Things?” ↗Not software books, but 'Apollo: Race to the Moon' by Murray and Cox, and 'The Making of The Atomic Bomb', Rhodes are my two favorite books about engineering projects and the people behind them.
on “Ask HN: Recommendations on books and documentaries on tech companies/people?” ↗I recommend Apollo by Cox and Murray, an account of the Apollo program from the perspective of the engineers and managers, written based on hundreds of interviews and archive material. It's fascinating and explains how…
on “July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind (2013)” ↗I found Apollo, by Catherine Bly Cox and Charles Murray, quite interesting and entertaining. http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Catherine-Bly-Cox-ebook/dp/B003...
on “Ask HN: Space exploration book recommendations?” ↗It has been written ('Apollo', Murray and Cox, highly recommended) that the Apollo engineers did exactly that.
on “Gene Cernan has died” ↗'A Man on the Moon' is a terrific book focused on the astronauts. Consider also reading 'Apollo: Race to the Moon', Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox for more of the engineering perspective. They cover everything from building the F-1 engines used in the Saturn V first stage, to the lunar module,…
on “How the Apollo Fire Propelled NASA to the Moon” ↗'Apollo: Race To The Moon', Murray and Cox, is a great popular history that describes a pretty broad swath of the engineering (and management) efforts behind Apollo, including several nice sections on the Saturn…
on “The last known unidentified marking on the Saturn V S-IC” ↗Offhand... 1. 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb', R. Rhodes 2. 'Apollo: Race to the Moon', C. Murray, C. Cox 3. 'The Prize', D. Yergin 4. 'Are Your Lights On?', D. Gause, G. Weinberg 5. 'Becoming A Technical Leader', G. Weinberg
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite non-fiction books of all time?” ↗There is a great chapter on the F1's engineering and development in 'Apollo: Race To The Moon', Murray and Cox. The whole book focuses on the engineering and management challenges involved in putting a man on the moon and returning him safely in one decade.
on “Boeing’s last 747 is rolling out of the factory” ↗Not totally what you are looking for, but I'd highlghly recommend "Apollo" by Murray and Cox. It focuses on the engineering history of the Apollo program, and it is a superbly well written and researched worked and so many of the stories are about engineering philosophy that…
on “Ask HN: Good books on philosophy of engineering?” ↗