Short answers, pulled from the story.
Space historians Francis French and Colin Burgess wrote the book In the Shadow of the Moon in 2007. They built this narrative using original personal interviews with astronauts, cosmonauts, and those who worked closely with them.
University of Nebraska Press published the volume In the Shadow of the Moon as part of their Outward Odyssey series in 2007. The press specializes in spaceflight history and related academic works to ensure rigorous fact checking and archival depth.
The resulting text covers programs from 1965 onwards including Gemini, Soyuz, and early Apollo flights. Coverage extends all the way to the first landing on the Moon by Apollo 11.
They sought out direct testimony from people who lived through the era rather than relying solely on public records or official documents. This approach allowed them to capture details that often remain hidden in archives while presenting a challenging journey to Tranquility based on firsthand accounts.
Despite the shared name neither project served as a source for the other because they exist independently despite overlapping subject matter and personnel. The authors clarify that their written account stands alone without cinematic influence.