About the Author

David Chudwin, MD decided to go into medicine instead of journalism, but his Apollo 11 experiences led to a lifelong interest in space exploration. Chudwin has written about Apollo 11 in a variety of media outlets and has spoken about Apollo 11 at schools and at space meetings, including Spacefest. Chudwin is well-known in the space community, and Apollo astronauts Charles Duke, Fred Haise, Alfred Worden, and Jack Lousma have written endorsements for this book.

Reviews

"At the start of 16 July 1969, just after midnight, I boarded the Apollo 11 Capsule to go through a several-hundred-item 'switch list' to assure the ship was ready for crew ingress. I was very excited to be a part of this historic mission leading to our first landing on the Moon. David's book gives one a great perspective of the excitement and experience of someone outside the Apollo Program!" --Fred Haise, astronaut, Apollo 11 Backup and Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot

"I was very honored to be the Apollo 11 CAPCOM during the first landing on the Moon. This was a very tense time, especially the last minute before the landing. I Was a Teenage Space Reporter: From Apollo 11 to Our Future in Space takes the reader into every part of the Apollo Program, just as if you are there! It is a must read." --Charles Duke, astronaut, Apollo 11 Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) and Apollo 16 Moonwalker

"The launch of a Saturn V is the most amazing thing you would ever see. It was the largest and most powerful rocket ever conceived by man. What a thrill to be part of that great program and fly to the Moon! David has captured much of the excitement and emotional highs those launches included. You will like this book and the photos taken by a very dedicated and proficient photographer." --Al Worden, astronaut, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot

"While in the astronaut training 'pipeline' for an Apollo mission, I served as CAPCOM and Lunar Module Checkout astronaut on Support Crews for Apollos 9, 10, and 13. In fact, I was the CAPCOM who answered that fateful call from Apollo 13, 'Houston, we have a problem!' Follow the riveting stories from those exciting and historic days of the Apollo program in this book by Dr. David Chudwin, my fellow graduate from the University of Michigan." --Jack Lousma, astronaut, Apollo 13 CAPCOM, Skylab 2 Pilot and STS-3 Commander

"During the 50th anniversary celebration in 2019 of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, millions of people all around the world will remember where they were and what they were doing when the Eagle landed on the Sea of Tranquility with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on board. But this book's author, David Chudwin, was actually there, as a teenager, with his camera and a notepad, as a bonafide member of the press when the mission blasted off from Cape Kennedy on 16 July 1969. The photos Chudwin took as a teenage space reporter are compelling, but it is the story of how his experience with Apollo 11 changed his life that is so profound and marvelous." --James R. Hansen, Neil Armstrong biographer, author of First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, and co-producer of the film of the same name

"Seeing Apollo 11's launch through the memories of a wide-eyed teenage outsider is remarkable: a homegrown reminiscence from someone fortunate to be a witness to humankind's greatest engineering triumph." --Francis French, space historian and Director of Education, San Diego Air and Space Museum

"History is a subject best understood after viewing it through multiple lenses. How wonderful to have this new perspective from David Chudwin, who has crafted a vivid memoir about covering the Apollo 11 moon flight as a young journalist. His sharp recall of details frames the events in a rich tapestry of historical context. David's ambition and 'don't give up' work ethic are an inspiring call to action for all types of young explorers to pursue their interests and follow their dreams." --Jay Gallentine, award-winning space historian and author of Ambassadors from Earth: Pioneering Explorations with Unmanned Spacecraft