Follow-up spreads look at postflight developments in the world's space programs. The 32 fully illustrated pages of Race to the Moon paint a surprisingly complete picture of space travel. A glossary and an index will help readers search the text for specific information. Originally published in 1993, One Giant Leap has been rereleased in time for the 30th anniversary in a new paperback edition. Fraser takes young readers from liftoff to the famous first steps.
Little time is spent on the history of spaceflight or on events after touchdown on the moon.
Actual quotes from mission control help readers relive some tense moments in the flight of Apollo 11. Fraser takes pains to emphasize the uncertainties and dangers that faced Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins. She also makes a point of sharing with readers that, as exciting a moment in history as the flight was, many people felt the United States should not have poured money into the space program at a time when the country faced many problems. Additional resources are included to help students understand the historic moment. A graph shows the size of Saturn V in relation to previously fired rockets.