Andrew Chaikin
United States
Proposed name: Author, Speaker, Space Historian
Award-winning science journalist and space historian Andrew Chaikin has authored books and articles about space exploration and astronomy for more than 25 years. Writer-director and explorer James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens of the Deep) called him “our best historian of the space age.”
Chaikin is best known as the author of A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts, widely regarded as the definitive account of the moon missions. First published in 1994, this acclaimed work was the main basis for Tom Hanks’ 12-part HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon, which won the Emmy for best miniseries in 1998. Chaikin spent eight years writing and researching A Man on the Moon, including over 150 hours of personal interviews with 23 of the 24 lunar astronauts (Apollo 13′s Jack Swigert was already deceased). Apollo moonwalker Gene Cernan said of the book, “I’ve been there. Chaikin took me back.” A new edition of the book, with a new afterword for the 50th anniversary of the space age, was published by Penguin in 2007.
Latest Planetary Radio Appearance
More From Planetfest With Andrew Chaikin and Scott Hubbard
08/20/2012 | 1:00:02
Listen
Our Planetary Radio Live celebration of Mars rover Curiosity at Planetfest continues with more from space historian Andrew Chaikin, former NASA Mars czar Scott Hubbard and Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye the Science Guy. Emily breaks the news about NASA’s choice for a Discovery mission, and Bruce Betts joins Mat Kaplan for a What’s Up look at the night sky and a new space trivia contest.
Latest Blog Posts
Forty years after Apollo 17's final footsteps
Posted 2012/12/14 01:48 CST | 2 comments
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the last human footsteps on the Moon. In my latest video I look back at Apollo 17 and explain why I believe the Moon is the solar system's "jewel in the crown," beckoning us to return.
Let NASA Dare Mighty Things Again
Posted 2012/08/17 08:47 CDT | 18 comments
In the space Olympics, the U.S. just won gold. So what, in the scheme of things, is the justification for the draconian budget cuts to NASA’s planetary program that threaten scientists’ carefully thought out plans for exploring the solar system in the coming decade?
Posted 2012/07/18 04:11 CDT | 3 comments
Chaikin interviews Mars scientist Nathalie Cabrol who talks about her passion for exploration and urges America to explore even in tough economic times.
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