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Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 

The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News


Live stream of first New Glenn launch

I have once again embedded below Blue Origin’s live stream of its attempt tonight to complete the maiden launch of its orbital New Glenn rocket.

The launch window of three hours opens at 1 am (Eastern). It would be nice if Blue Origin’s announcers showed some improvement in their delivery tonight but I have doubts. Expect as always lots of “This is so exciting!” and “Aren’t you excited?” and “Isn’t this the most exciting evening yet!” Blah.

As I’ve said, their audience doesn’t want emotion, it wants detailed information provided coolly. If they do that, they will do more to sell their rocket than anything.

UPDATE: It appears Blue Origin management might have seen the blistering criticisms of its launch coverage yesterday. Instead of starting the live stream an hour before, they are now going to start it at T-20 minutes, but have also placed the count on hold at T-20:50. This avoids blather, especially if mission control is not going to provide the announcers any concrete information, as they did yesterday.

The change from simply recycling the count to an actual hold is also a positive change. Simply recycling the count (by adding 20-30 minutes periodically while they work out issues) puts pressure on the launch team unnecessarily. Better to work under a hold.

The count now has been recycled to 30 minutes and is rolling. We shall see if the podcast goes live at 20 minutes.

Readers!

 

Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.

 

I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either. IMPORTANT! If you donate enough to get a book, please email me separately to tell me which book you want and the address to mail it to.

 

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6 comments

  • David M. Cook

    1962: “God Speed John Glenn.” 2025: “God Speed New Glenn.”

  • Willi

    I found BO’s coverage of the first launch attempt to be obnoxious.

  • Joe

    They started 20 minutes before launch but of course had a recycle due to a boat. I decided to watch Everyday Astronaut and his teams stream. It is way mire enjoyable. Tim knows when to silence the main feed.

  • David Eastman

    Why is SpaceX the only launch company that can manage consistent high definition video of their launches? Even before Starlink was available we got amazing video. All BO gives us is some choppy out of focus shots from the back of the booster and then just the animations. ESA, ULA, etc. don’t do any better either…

  • David Eastman: It is very simple: SpaceX has had a lot of opportunity to practice and get it right. :)

  • David Eastman: Also, SpaceX is NOT the only launch company that provides high definition video. Rocket Lab’s video feeds are comparable to SpaceX’s, and have been for years.

    I would also say that ULA does a good job as well.

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