4th
Apollo XI: launch sequence
This video (or more precisely: its first 36 seconds) was one of the first clips I actually saw on a computer screen, some 16 years ago. It was stored on one of those digital encyclopedias that came bundled with the first PC we owned at home: an IBM powered by an Intel-486 microprocessor, running at an “unbelievably fast” 33 MhZ, and coupled with an “amazingly huge” 170 MB hard-disk. I thought we’d never need more computing power or storage. Ha.
I saw this video, in miniature resolution, over and over again. It fascinated me, so much so that I ended up memorizing the audio of the final countdown. I used to repeat it, usually just before getting into the ice-cold water of my morning shower: “… twelve, eleven, ten, nine, ignition sequence starts… six, five, four, three, two, one, zero: all engines running. Liftoff! We have a liftoff! 32 minutes past the hour, liftoff on Apollo 11! Tower cleared. Roger.”. By the time I had said “liftoff!”, I would always close my eyes and jump into the water.
It still fascinates me today. The Apollo project is one of those things that boggles my mind. I wish I could’ve been at Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969. Perhaps I would’ve shouted “rock n’ roll, baby!” at the roaring rocket. Oh, yeah, I would’ve.
[Snapshot from the Apollo 11 Flight Plan PDF.]
[Also: have a look at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. To my knowledge, it’s the most complete and reliable source of online information on the Apollo 11 mission.]
