She was granted special access to the families of astronauts in the Apollo program, to write the book, First on the Moon (1970).

[1][2] Her father was a World War I veteran and a newspaper editor and publisher.

[6][7] During World War II, Hamblin worked at the Cedar Rapids Gazette,[8] and for the American Red Cross in Europe and New Guinea.

[11] In 1960 she became assistant editor of the magazine, based in New York City, and in Houston from 1967 to 1969, to cover the Apollo program.

[13] Books by Hamblin included First on the Moon (1970, with Gene Farmer), Pots and Robbers (1970),[14] Buried Cities and Ancient Treasures (1973),[15] The First Cities (1973),[16] The Appian Way (1974, with Mary Jane Grunsfeld),[17] The Etruscans (1975),[18] and her memoir, That Was The Life (1977).