Counting Up, Counting Down, Staying Level
Perhaps the most famous countdown ever preceded the launch of Apollo 11 on 16 July 1969. There was worldwide excitement as the day and hour of the launch approached. The anticipation heightened as the Apollo 11 crew left Kennedy Space Centre's Manned Spacecraft Operations Building after dining on a breakfast of steak, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and orange juice. The count reached its dramatic conclusion during the last 10 seconds (Ignition sequence starts...All Engines running...Lift off, we have lift off...). B ut, once Apollo 11 had been launched on top of a Saturn V rocket from Merritt Island, Florida, the epic journey was under way. The spacecraft traveled away from Earth at high speed, and within 4 days, man stepped on the moon for the first time. The countdown was great fun, but it was only the prelude to the main event - landing on the moon. The same also applies to the final seconds of New Year's Eve or shopping days to Chanukah. T he party only starts once the co