Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut’s Journey to the Moon by Al Worden with Francis French; Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.; $29.95 (hardcover); July 2011.
This is a great read, one that is frank in telling the tale of an Apollo astronaut first lavished with public adulation, then encountering post-astronaut remorse, later to repair and reclaim his self-esteem. What sparked this roller coaster ride in Worden’s life – I won’t cover it here!
Worden was command module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon in 1971. He also claims the title of being one of the few members of the “Lonely Hearts Club” – spending three days alone circling the Moon as his capsule colleagues walked on the lunar surface. Additionally, he carried out the first spacewalk in deep space.
This account includes Worden’s literal ground-up rise from farmer, solider, aviator to reaching the exclusive club of astronaut status.
The reader will be drawn to Worden’s description of the horrific Apollo fire in January 1967 that killed three of his fellow astronauts, as well as the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.
Worden’s recollections of his Apollo 15 voyage are gripping, from solo-flying around the Moon in Endeavour to his deep space EVA. “I would forever be the first, and to this day I hold the record for floating in space farther away from Earth than any other human,” he writes.
You’ll benefit from this informative and reflective tell-all book. Astronaut Tom Stafford wrote the book’s epilogue and astronaut Dick Gordon contributed a foreword. A tip of the helmet visor goes to space historian, Francis French, director of education for the San Diego Air & Space Museum, for his expertise in crafting this revealing volume.
For more on this book and other information, go to Al Worden’s website:
http://www.alworden.com/falling.htm
By Leonard David