SR 141: How Politics Shaped Project Apollo with Teasel Muir-Harmony

Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking with Teasel Muir-Harmony,
curator of the Project Apollo collection at the Smithsonian
National Air and Space Museum, about the history of the Apollo
missions and the role politics has had in setting space policy.


In her new book, “OPERATION MOONGLOW: A Political History of
Project Apollo,” Teasel explores how and why the moon landing
became one of the most decisive geopolitical events of the 20th
century. In the wake of the Soviet Union’s pioneering launch of
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961, and a humiliating defeat at the
Bay of Pigs days later, President John F. Kennedy proposed
Project Apollo as a solution to restoring America’s tarnished
geopolitical standing. With Cold War tensions between the Soviet
Union and the United States approaching an all-time high, Kennedy
argued that ramping up the space program would inspire global
confidence in American excellence -- and might even persuade
people in developing countries to pick American “freedom” over
Soviet “tyranny.”


In addition to her duties at the Smithsonian, Teasel teaches at
Georgetown University. She is the author of "Apollo to the Moon:
A History in 50 Objects" and is also a contributor to the
television series Apollo’s Moon Shot. She lives in Washington,
DC.


To learn more about OPERATION MOONGLOW, including how to can get
your copy, visit
https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/teasel-muir-harmony/operation-moonglow/9781541699878/


You can follow Teasel on Twitter
(https://twitter.com/teaselmuir).


Join the show recording every Thursday at 8pm ET by leaving a
voicemail at www.SpaceRadioShow.com.


Support the show on Patreon.


Follow on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube.


Justin G, Matthew K, Chris L, Barbara K, Duncan M, Corey D,
Justin Z, Neuterdude, Nate H, Andrew F, Naila, Aaron S, Scott M,
Rob H, David B, Frank T, Tim R, Alex P, Tom Van S, Mark R, Alan
B, Craig B, Richard K, Steve P, Dave L, Chuck C, Stephen M,
Maureen R, Stace J, Neil P, lothian53, COTFM, Stephen S, Ken L,
Debra S, Alberto M, Matt C, Ron S, Joe R, Jeremy K, David P, Norm
Z, Ulfert B, Robert B, Fr. Bruce W, Catherine R, Nicolai B, Sean
M, Edward K, Callan R, Darren W, JJ_Holy, Tracy F, Tom, Sarah K,
Bill H, Steven S, Jens O, Ryan L, Ella F, Richard S, Sam R,
Thomas K, James C, Jorg D, R Larche, Syamkumar M, John S, Fred S,
Homer V, Mark D, Brianna V, Colin B, Bruce A, Steven M, Brent B,
Bill E, Jim L, Tim Z, Thomas W, Linda C, Joshua, David W, Aissa
F, Tom G, Marc H, Avery P, Scott M, Michael G, and Katelyn.


Produced by Nancy Graziano.


Cheese for today’s tasting proudly provided by Dom’s Cheese Shop.


Hosted by Paul M. Sutter, astrophysicist and the one and only
Agent to the Stars.