Counting Down to Apollo

One American's account of watching humanity reach the Moon

Archive: July 1969

Launch Day
Apollo 11 July 16, 1969

Launch Day

This morning the Saturn V carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins lifted off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The engine ignited at 9:32 AM. They are going to the Moon. I watched with my family and none of us spoke when the rocket rose. There are…
Read the full entry
July 13, 1969

Watching the Rollout

The Saturn V rolled out to Pad 39A last month and photographs show it standing there under the Florida sun, waiting. Three days until they light it.
Read the full entry
July 9, 1969

Armstrong’s Voice

I've been reading everything I can find about Neil Armstrong, trying to understand who is about to do this thing. The more I read, the more I think the right man is going.
Read the full entry