Andrew Chaikin

Andrew Chaikin is an author, speaker, and space exploration expert. Chaikin is best known for his 1994 book, A Man on the Moon, which tells the story of the Apollo space program missions. He has also written and edited several other books, among them Voices from the Moon, Air and Space Smithsonian, and Apollo: The Epic Journey to the Moon.

Chaikin grew up in a family of scientists and was shaped by a lifelong fascination with space exploration. As a graduate student in astronomy at Cornell University, he began working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In 1981, he became a NASA consultant and wrote Air and Space Smithsonian magazine, which focused on the history and mission of the Apollo program.

After several years with NASA, Chaikin pursued his own career and wrote several books about space exploration. With A Man on the Moon, Chaikin offered readers a comprehensive and intimate look at the lives of the men who made the Apollo missions possible. The book was acclaimed for its thoroughness and personal appeal, and became a national bestseller. It led to a hybrid television series by Tom Hanks and HBO, the award-winning HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, which followed the Apollo astronauts on their missions.

In Air and Space Smithsonian magazine, Chaikin recounts the Apollo program firsthand, to offer readers a comprehensive look into the history of America's space exploration efforts. He also penned Voices From the Moon, which described the effort to send humans to the moon as told by some of the astronauts who were part of the mission.

In his most recent book, Apollo: The Epic Journey to the Moon, Chaikin looks back on the entire journey — from the birth of the idea to the landing on the moon. The book covers the entire span of the program, from the first mission to the final mission. It is filled with interesting stories and anecdotes from those who were there, as well as first hand reports from the astronauts themselves. It provides an entirely human view point of the program — one that conveys the enthusiasm, hope and joy of those who were part of it.

As a long-time space exploration expert and lover, Chaikin has certainly made his mark in the field. His books offer a vast glimpse into the stories of those who lived and worked during the Apollo missions — stories of courage, ingenuity and fortitude that have captivated readers for decades. These books remain essential reading for any fans of the Apollo program, adding a unique and humane perspective to a story that has come to define America’s ingenuity and spirit.