Rocket Boys
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A story of overcoming obstacles worthy of Frank Capra ... [an] eloquent evocation of a lost time and place. --The New York Times
Unforgettable ... unlike so many memoirs this brings to life more than one man's experiences. --USA Today
An engaging account of growing up and leaving home ... One closes the book with an immense feeling of satisfaction. -- Atlanta Journal & Constitution
In March 1995, Homer Hickam, Jr. wrote a 2,000 word article for Smithsonian Air & Space magazine. The article was entitled "Big Creek Missile Agency," and it described Homer and his friends' experiences building rockets in rural Coalwood, West Virginia, starting in 1957. The magazine received tons of letters praising the article and asking for more.
Homer Hickam, Jr. turned his short story into a book titled Rocket Boys, which, of course, turned into an international phenomenon. The book was published in 1998.
Universal Pictures released a movie in 1999 called October Sky based on Rocket Boys.
Hickam subsequently published three more books in The Coalwood Series: The Coalwood Way, Sky of Stone and We Are Not Afraid. Please click here to read about each story.
Links
Official Web Site of Homer Hickam
www.HomerHickam.com
Original Rocket Boys Site
http://rocketboys.8m.com/
Big Creek Missile Agency
The February/March 1995 issue of
Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine
contained the original 2,000 word article
"Big Creek Missile Agency"
by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
that started it all!
Read the entire article here:
http://www.airspacemag.com/ASM/Mag/Index/1995/FM/bcma.html
Werner Von Braun
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/Academy/History/vonBraun/vonBraun.html
Interview with Homer
http://www.imagiverse.org/interviews/homerhickam/homer_hickam_10_09_03.htm
Article about Homer
http://www.wonderfulwv.com/archives/march99/fea2.cfm