Houston, Space City USA
Houston, Space City USA by Ray Viator, published by Texas A&M University Press on February 13, 2019, is a visual exploration of Houston’s significant role in the U.S. human space program. This 224-page book captures the essence of the city’s historic ties to space exploration, beginning with the momentous Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, when the first word from the lunar surface was “Houston.” Through a combination of striking photographs and historic images, Viator illustrates how Houston has evolved from its agricultural roots to become a central hub for spaceflight.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of visual storytelling that highlights Houston’s ongoing commitment to space science and exploration. The book features a variety of themes, including regional history and the impact of space science on the community. Viator’s photography not only showcases the full moon as a recurring motif but also reveals lesser-known connections, such as the symbolism found in local uniforms. Houston, Space City USA invites readers to discover the intricate relationship between the city and one of humanity’s most remarkable achievements.
Official synopsis Publisher
On July 20, 1969, humanity paused with attention locked to television and radio broadcasts as the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission dramatically touched down on the dusty face of the moon. The first word from the lunar surface: Houston.
Houston, Space City USA is a visual celebration of the city’s historic ties to the US human space program. When President Kennedy declared, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard,” he did so from the campus of Rice University. More than half a century later, Houston continues to serve as the nerve center of the American human space program.
Author and photographer Ray Viator, a longtime Houstonian, has lovingly captured the spirit of a city’s devotion to space exploration from then to now. Using striking photographs of the full moon as a visual motif of Houston’s connection to spaceflight, Viator also weaves together historic images to show how former cow pastures transformed into mission control. Some connections are obvious—the Houston Astros or the Houston Rockets. Others are hidden in plain sight, like the arm patches on the uniform of every Houston police officer that read, “Space City U.S.A.” Viator’s lens captures this and more.
Houston, Space City USA not only marks the important milestone of the first lunar landing, but it also helps readers discover and rediscover a city’s constellation of connections to one of humankind’s greatest achievements.
The author’s proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit Houston Public Media.
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