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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


May 30, 2025 Quick space links

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

  • Another Chinese pseudo-company, Astronstone, raises money, proposes copycat rocket
    More here. As noted at the first link, the design appears to be a steal of the rocket being built by another Chinese pseudo-company, Space Epoch. This is not surprising, as the Chinese government requires its fake companies to share all data with the government and other companies. The only design difference is that Astronstone is stealing SpaceX’s chopstick launch tower design for its rocket’s landing.

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7 comments

  • mkent

    The actual FY26 budget proposal dropped a couple of hours ago. The Roman Space Telescope was spared, but other than that, the proposal is as bad as everyone thought it would be. Maybe worse. Ugh.

  • wayne

    Ah, here we go:

    Atlas Centaur AC-23
    Mariner 9 Launch (5/30/1971)
    San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives
    https://youtu.be/U-A_ToPpsuY
    28:18

    Nice and long, multiple camera angles, Color, but it’s silent….”

    “Film from the Atlas Centaur Heritage Film Collection which was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum by Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. The Collection contains 3,000 reels of 16-millimeter film.”

  • Richard M

    Hello Bob,

    I just shot you an email on a story developing this afternoon (in case you had not heard). But I sent it from my other main gmail account, so don’t let it throw you off base.

  • Richard Lender

    Hello again Bob,

    I keep getting an access denied — perhaps because I used a new email address to you?

    Anyway….there’s mounting reporting this afternoon that the White House is pulling Jared Isaacman’s nomination as NASA administrator. That is the story.

    Semafor:
    https://www.semafor.com/article/05/31/2025/white-house-expected-to-pull-nasa-nominee-isaacman
    Washington Post:
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/31/nasa-nomination-administrator-senate-isaacman/
    Politico:
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/31/trump-nasa-nomination-pulled-00378805

    A lot of stuff on Twitter, too, but these are the major media reports.

    Eric Berger is not holding back: “A likely disaster for NASA. There were two final choices for admin six months ago. One was a budget cutter. The other was Jared.” There is spicier commentary on his feed, but I do not want to violate your rules!
    https://x.com/SciGuySpace/status/1928898435194753447

    Homer Hickam: “I simply cannot believe this might happen. Disaster? Yes. Tragic? Absolutely. Sickening? I think so. Jared
    @rookisaacman doesn’t need @NASA but it surely needs him.”
    https://x.com/realhomerhickam/status/1928901269042642959

    There is still not a formal announcement from the White House, so take it all for what it is worth.

  • Richard M

    Now Jeff Foust has talked to someone at the White House:

    From a WH spokesperson on reports it was withdrawing Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA: “It’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon.”

    https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/1928910389397303566

  • mkent

    I was just about to mention the news about Jared Isaacman’s nomination, but I see Richard M. beat me to it. I guess Jared’s statements in support of NASA’s science programs were what did him in. I thought he was doing a good job threading the needle between accepting steep cuts while supporting enough science to get confirmed, but apparently not. Sigh.

    We’ll see what happens, but this could really turn into a train wreck. Ugh.

  • Richard M: I’m not sure why your email did not arrive. I will email you directly.

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