Richard Jurek

Richard Jurek is co-author of Marketing the Moon: The Selling of the Apollo Lunar Program (MIT Press, 2014), and author of The Ultimate Engineer: The Remarkable Life of NASA's Visionary Leader George M. Low (University of Nebraska Press, 2019). He is also the owner of the Jefferson Space Museum, a virtual collection of his space flown $2 bills from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs and other space flown numismatic curiosities.

Shepard safely back on the deck of USS Lake Champlain after his 15-minute flight.

Why Alan Shepard Carried a Dollar Bill on His Mercury Flight

A new meaning for the old expression, “No bucks, no Buck Rogers.”

George Low “was good at everything,” recalled another legendary Apollo manager, Bob Gilruth. “He was worth about 10 men.”

The Man Who Won the Moon Race

George Low’s idea to shoot for the moon in 1968 may have been Apollo’s boldest decision.

Wernher von Braun (center, standing), George Mueller (to his right) and other members of the NASA team watch an Apollo test flight in 1964.

What Is the Space Program Good For?

In 1968, on the eve of the first Apollo launch, rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun gave his answer.

Duke Ellington rehearsing (left) his original composition “Moon Maiden,” and taping his performance (right) on July 15, 1969.

Duke Ellington Sings About the First Moon Landing

In 1969, the jazz composer performed a rare vocal to mark Apollo 11’s historic flight.

Page 1 of 1