Anticipating The Light Of Earth
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Today — 12 April, 2021 — marks the 40th anniversary of the first space shuttle mission, which I remember well, being glued to the television for launch. It is also the 60th anniversary of the first ever human space flight, by Yuri Gagarin, who I’ve enjoyed writing about over the years in a number of books and articles.
It feels like a fitting day to talk about two books I have out in this momentous year.
Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon, Al Worden with Francis French, 2021
Some years after Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden and I published the 2011 book “Falling to Earth” and it had done well on the bestseller lists, we were asked by a publisher, “What else have you got?”
It turned out, we had two more books.
First, we had an idea for a children’s book. Al Worden loved telling kids about his moon mission. We carefully pared down his flight to the essential, most wondrous experiences he had. Then we pulled out the old coffee-stained yellow legal pads on which he had scrawled random thoughts late at night, right after he returned from the moon. These were the earliest drafts of what he would later turn into a book of space poetry. I was able to work with the drafts in this raw state, pulling out evocative phrases that added to the sense of travel outside our planet.
One element was still missing. Aerospace artist Michelle Rouch, a friend to both of us, created artwork that enhanced the words, and added color and mood that no camera could ever capture. She and Al worked together on technical details to make sure things never photographed, such as details of Al’s spacesuit during his record-breaking deep space EVA, were perfect.
The final result, “Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon,” has passed the toughest test of all – kids like it.
The Light of Earth: Reflections on a Life in Space, Al Worden with Francis French, 2021
Our second book, “The Light of Earth: Reflections on a Life in Space,” tells a different story, one that an astronaut could really only tell decades after their mission. “Falling to Earth” was all about what Al did as an astronaut. “The Light of Earth” is about what it is like to be an astronaut. It’s a distinct difference. Twenty-three other people flew to the moon as Al did; in a unique encapsulation of personalities, he delves into what they were like. Outspoken and blunt, Al gives his opinions on later space programs, the future of space travel – and how to deal with people who believe humans never went to the moon at all. He discusses the risk of death all astronauts faced in a way that only someone very late in life could. His views are candid, often surprising, and frequently very funny.
Both books were receiving a final editorial polish when Al passed away in 2020, at the age of 88, while still on his mission to inspire the next generation of explorers. He had so much more he wanted to do – the mark of a full life, well lived. And with these two books released this year, he still has new things to say to us all.