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Let me first say that I love space. I have been fascinated by space exploration since I was a child in the ’70s and the space shuttle program started. I almost cried seeing a retired shuttle in person when I visited the Endeavour at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. I would 100 percent go into space given the chance.
So of course I was going to read this book about NASA’s Gemini program. Author Jeffrey Kluger has written a number of other books about space missions, including Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was made into the gripping, moving film Apollo 13.
All that being said, you may not be quite as enthusiastic as I about this book if you’re not into space. But I sure enjoyed it.
Kluger’s main purpose in writing Gemini was to celebrate and recognize the important role this program played in getting American astronauts to the moon. He writes, “It is one of American history’s great cases of institutional amnesia that we think too little about the Gemini space program.” He says we tend to think more about Mercury and Apollo but not “the middle sibling of the American space program.” But whereas experienced pilots essentially just “rode” the capsules of Mercury, in Gemini, they got to actually put their piloting skills to work. The Gemini program was crucial in getting astronauts experienced enough to be able to do what they did in Apollo.
As much as I love “space stuff,” I still hadn’t read a book that covered these programs; Gemini does still include a good amount of essential information about Mercury and Apollo, both to lay a foundation and to give Gemini context in the arc of how the three programs fit together.
I think one thing that stuck with me the most about reading this book is just how little was known back in the ’50s and ’60s, how (relative to now) crude and basic the equipment used to fling human beings up into space and then bring them back home safely. They didn’t even have computers on board until the very last Gemini flight (it seems that’s the case from how I’m reading it). And that very simple computing device (it could perform 7,000 calculations per second) was 59 pounds — and they were proud of making a computer that light! The astronauts themselves (and people on the ground) were doing extraordinary work with their own brilliant minds. I am just flabbergasted by the whole endeavor!
This is a book that likely will fill you with awe at the depth and breadth of human imagination, intelligence, courage, and determination. Sure, there are plenty of instances of human stubbornness and frailties, but overall, Gemini is a fascinating and inspiring look at an exciting part of US history.
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes 2 uses of strong language, 6 instances of moderate profanity, a dozen uses of mild language, and one instance of the name of Deity in vain. There are some descriptions of fiery deaths in two instances where astronauts were killed in relation to the space program during this time.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
