Description
Embark on a captivating photographic journey beyond Earth, from the dawn of human space exploration, through the untold story of the Mercury and Gemini missions
'Wickedly exciting' Tom Hanks
'Experience the same incredible awe as we astronauts did on those very first voyages into space' Jim Lovell, Gemini 7 & 12, Apollo 8 & 13
'An unprecedented trip back in time... a vibrant, new, living record' Gene Kranz, Flight Director Mercury, Gemini, Apollo
When we think of the history of space exploration, we can't help but think of the Apollo missions and Neil Armstrong's one giant leap. But what about the small steps that enabled NASA to reach for the Moon?
Astronauts working on the earliest space missions, from Project Mercury to the Gemini missions of the mid-1960s, answered fundamental questions about the possibilities of long-duration space travel, paving the way for the Apollo missions and, ultimately, the Moon landings. They also took the first, and still some of the finest, images of Earth ever captured on film.
Now, the bestselling author of Apollo Remastered, Andy Saunders has restored images from these first missions to show them in unprecedented detail and tell their full story, filled with dramatic life or death moments, mischievous pranks and astonishing triumphs. This stunning visual odyssey brings to life the pivotal, intimate moments of early space travel, unveiling the raw beauty and profound challenges faced by the pioneering astronauts pushing the boundaries of human achievement. Gemini and Mercury Remastered is a striking tribute to the visionaries who dared to dream beyond our world and a testament to the enduring power of exploration.
About the Author
Andy Saunders is one of the world's foremost experts of NASA digital restoration and author of the Sunday Times bestselling Apollo Remastered. His work has been exhibited internationally, and he collaborated with Tom Hanks to produce The Moonwalkers - an immersive show telling the story of the Apollo missions. His photographs have also appeared in BBC News, Daily Telegraph, Smithsonian Magazine, New York Times, as well as in NASA's own archives. In 2019, he created the only clear, recognisable image of Neil Armstrong on the Moon, and in 2023, he received the Royal Photographic Society Award for Scientific Imaging.
Reviews
Wickedly exciting. In the history of peace-making endeavors, has there ever been such an effective speed-the-process effort than putting a human being on the surface of the Moon AND returning them safely to the Earth, in a race against time and the laws of physics? I don't think so. Mercury and Gemini had an infinite list of challenges to prove, beginning with 'is this even possible in the first place'?
Would Alan Shepard burn up falling to his splashdown? Would John Glenn choke on a pill he took to prove he could swallow in orbit? Would Ed White, Eugene Cernan, and Michael Collins be able to get back into their spacecraft after their spacewalks? Could Frank Borman and Jim Lovell survive a full two weeks in outer space? No one knew, until the programs were completed. Mercury and Gemini were as noble an undertaking as America dared to command, and here you will witness these moments through Saunders' remastered imagery and truly experience history
Just like the Mercury astronauts before me, I witnessed the Earth as it truly is for the first time aboard Gemini 7 and 12. These remastered photos, in such detail and clarity, bring back clear memories of my journeys into space. Andy Saunders not only brings to the surface the value of the Mercury and Gemini programs, but more importantly, allows people around the world to experience the same incredible awe of our beautiful Earth as we astronauts did on those very first voyages into space -- Jim Lovell, Gemini 7 & 12, Apollo 8 & 13
Turning the pages of Gemini & Mercury Remastered triggered many strong emotions - it provides an unprecedented trip back in time to the beginning of our nation's manned space program. We had a lot to learn, and it was often luck that got us home. After Mercury, three impossibly short years remained to develop and prove the capabilities for Apollo, during Project Gemini. All of this history is covered extensively in the book via the new imagery, captions and Saunders' expert research.
Throughout, I see faces that I came to know so well and, for the first time after 60 years, Saunders' magic touch has allowed us all to see them in sharp focus during their groundbreaking missions. The restored images bring everything to life - they are a vibrant, new, living record of 'our time' - depicting perfectly the character of the men, the passion to achieve the next 'first', and the whole era of early human space exploration for which I was a part
Book Information
ISBN 9780241638194
Author Andy Saunders
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Particular Books
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 2419g
Dimensions(mm) 316mm * 298mm * 25mm
