Site atthe press channel basin, where the spacecraft is brought from the manufacturer in huntsville, alabama. And here is an interesting sight, too. Beyond our press site, over by the Vehicle Assembly building, there are scores of workers out, permitted for the first time to bring binoculars and cameras of their own to the base. Theres a holiday atmosphere. While normally during these launches, work goes on the cape to keep things on schedule, but indeed, in the Vehicle Assembly building, they have already erected apollo 12. Its ready to be rolled out as soon as apollo 11 is on its way for a launch. [beeping] walter it will be rolled out to launch within two months to me still try to meet president kennedys goal of landing on the moon in this decade. If apollo 11 goes as well as planned, they will take an extra couple of months to get a good reading on the rocks and so forth that are brought back. And then send apollo 12. We have an announcement coming up from Launch Control. And jack king. This is apollo seven Launch Control, now less than 16 minutes away from the planned liftoff of the apollo 11 space vehicle. All still going well with the countdown at this time. The astronauts aboard the spacecraft have had a little chance to rest over the last few minutes or so. At least, they havent been busy with procedures with the spacecraft. In the meantime, weve been performing final checks on the tracking beacons of the instrument unit, used as the Guidance System during the flight. Once we get down to the three minute, 10 second mark, we will go on an automatic sequence. As far as the launch vehicle is concerned, all aspects from there on down will be automatic, run by the ground master computer here in the firing room. This will lead up to the 8. 9 minute mark in the countdown, when the ignition sequence will begin in those five engines of the first stage, the s1c stage of the saturn v. At the two second mark, well get information and a signal that all engines are running. And at the zero mark in the countdown, once we get the commence signal, the signal that says the thrust is proper and acceptable, we then will then get a commit and liftoff as the hold on arms release the vehicle. We have some 7. 6 Million Pounds of thrust pushing the vehicle upward, a vehicle that weighs close to 6. 5 Million Pounds. Were now 14 minutes, 30 seconds and counting. And this is kennedy Launch Control. Well be hearing a great deal from jack king as the morning goes on. Youve got a good view there from one of the 66 cameras around the launch site, by which the National Space people in Launch Control monitor every one of the functions, the critical functions of the launch. With me here at our cbs News Space Center here at Merritt Island, overlooking the launch site out there, is one of the most distinguished of the Science Fiction writers, people who have predicted long before scientists were ready to put down the final plan just how we would go to the moon. This is arthur c. Clarke who, among his other distinguished works of Science Fiction includes 2001, the great movie which recently came out. Incidentally, arthur, i just read that they showed it with Great Success in moscow last night at a film festival. Apparently got great applause there, as it has everywhere around the world. You first wrote of going to the moon back in 1930s. At a time when nobody dreamed we it would come this soon. Did you . Mr. Clark no, i didnt imagine it would be in my lifetime in those days. Walter how do you feel this morning . Mr. Clarke very excited, and and i have i came in feeling excited yet its familiar. Now im thinking about the next thing. Mars and beyond. Walter youre already thinking of mars and beyond we havent gotten to the moon yet, arthur. Thats the nature of you Science Fiction writers, i suppose. Does this about match the way you thought we would do it . Mr. Clarke as far as the Technical Details are concerned, yes. This is precisely the way it was imagined. But what we never imagined was the scale and the cost and complexity of the enterprise. In fact, if we realized how difficult and complex it would be, we would probably have been pretty discouraged back in the 1930s. We thought you could build a spaceship for a few Million Dollars. Walter it costs a few Million Dollars just to launch it. Theres been inflation since then. I think the figure they give now for just the launch alone is 69 million. Thats no equipment, just launching. Arthur all this money will come back many times over for generations to come. This has been part of the best investment the United States has ever made. In another 20 years, people will be unable to imagine why we questioned this expenditure. Walter how do you see it coming back . Mr. Clarke the Space Industries of the next generation, it will move up to for the end of the century. There are many things we find we can only do in space. There are many things on this earth we can only do with airplanes and helicopters. At one time, it seemed to be of no practical importance. This is going to happen in space. Walter do you expect they will find any surprises out there . Mr. Clarke im sure they will. Nature is always more complex and more interesting that we can anticipate. Were going to find surprises on the moon. Maybe not on this first flight, but they will eventually. I dont know if we will find a large black monolith waiting for them. [laughter] walter a reference to 2001. Tell me what thats all about. [laughter] walter for those of us who have seen 2001, theres a lot of mystery about that far out closing for the picture, which we all like, but we still argue in our family about what that means. Maybe before this whole thing is over, arthur, i expect to have you sitting beside me many times over the next few days. In the flight of apollo 11, as we were so delighted to have you in previous flights, youll tell me the real secret of the monolith. Mr. Clarke ok, thats a promise. [laughter] walter hey, i think ive got something there. Hold on, arthur. Well have many more talks about the moon, how we get there, in the future. And your ideas of how we will get beyond the moon. Jack king in Launch Control now. Rotational hand controllers, the controllers they use in flight, and we have now gone to the automatic system with the emergency detection system. That system that would queue the astronauts if theres trouble down below with the saturn v rocket during the powered flight. Were now coming up on the 10 minute mark, 10 minutes away from our planned liftoff. Mark, t 10 minutes and counting. Were aiming for our planned liftoff at 32 minutes past the hour. This is kennedy Launch Control. Walter and let us tell you now, some of the things youre going to be seeing here, because there is no time in the excitement and the reports of the launch itself and indeed, you can scarcely be heard over the roar of the saturn v engine, the most powerful engine as far as we know, a series of engine that has ever been used to get man off of the surface or to move them anywhere on the surface of the earth, for that matter. The russians, we believe, are developing a rocket larger than this. But we have no evidence that they have used it as yet. Well, now, about 40 seconds before launch, the water deluge begins. Youll see some evidence of it perhaps on your picture. Then, at 8 and 9 10 seconds before the actual liftoff, ignition takes place. Thats when those five f1 engines begin belching forth their million and a half pounds of thrust each. There they are, a total of 7. 5 Million Pounds of thrust. Great fuel loads there, great explosive potential, if not controlled exactly through those nozzles. Nearly nine seconds after the ignition begins, the arms fall back and the rocket with its full Power Building up is released to begin its slow climb up towards the skies. Just a couple of seconds later, it yaws, rolls a little bit, and then, with the role program complete, about a half a minute into the flight, its rolled over so its on its proper azimuth, its proper launch course. At one minute, 21 seconds into the flight, you begin to see the contrails, which indicated has reached that point in the sky where the maximum dynamic pressure of its launch and piercing of the atmosphere has , that aerodynamic load of 460,000 pounds on the skin of the spacecraft. And its one of the dangerous points of the launch. Its the maximum bumping the pilots get as they take off. At that point, eight miles high, three miles and its moving at 1800 Miles Per Hour. Then the inboard engines begin. Then, 30 seconds later, the out or engines outboard engines begin to cut off. Then, 30 seconds later, the outboard engines cut off. By that time, the vehicle is 41 miles high, 57 miles downrange, running 6000 miles an hour. Then the first stage separates. The s2 second stage ignites. It completes its job and is jettisoned at three minutes and 11 seconds. And the launch escape jettisoneds six seconds after that. At seven minutes and 39 seconds, the inboard engine cuts off at the second stage, the stage that has been jettisoned earlier. The second cuts out at 7 39. The engines at 9 11. And the second stage at 9 12. Then we get the ignition, and that 11 15, the flight is on its way and we will go 15 miles high. 115 miles high. Later, 1. 52. 5 hours revolutions later, the stage fires up again to move to the 24,000 Miles Per Hour to escape the velocity and go into a trans lunar trajectory on its way to the moon last. The cbs coverage will continue in a moment. And its just five minutes to the historic launch of apollo 11 with all going well, armstrong, collins, and aldrin sitting on top of the great saturn rocket in the command module, getting ready for launch. Heres jack king in Launch Control. Jack were informing the astronauts that the swing is coming back. The astronauts will have a few more reports coming in the countdown. The last Business Report will be from Neil Armstrong at the 45 second mark in the count while he gives the status on the final alignment of the control system. Were now passing the 4 32 mark in the countdown and we do not were still go at this time. You are go for launch. From this time down, carlson handles the countdown as the launch vehicle begins to build up. Were now hitting the four minute mark, four minutes and counting, we are go for apollo 11. We will go on an automatic sequence, standing at 3 17. Walter the engines that generate the thrust, the combined course power equal to 543 jet fighter planes. The launch vehicle there weighs as much as the submarine nautilus and burns 5,660,000 pounds of fuel, the equivalent of 98 Railroad Tank Cars and the capacity of a small towns water tank. At lift off, noise reaches 102 decibels and the equivalent of 18 highflying sets at once. Jack thank you very much, we know it will be a good flight. We are on the automatic sequence. Werepproachinge the 3 approaching the three minute mark in the count. T minus three minutes and counting. Mission at this time. We are on an automatic sequence. T minus 2 45 and counting. Launch team is monitoring a number of what we call redline barriers. These are tolerances we dont want to go above and below. Theyre standing by to call out any deviations. 2 30 and counting, we are still go on apollo 11 at this time. The vehicle is starting to pressurize. All is still go as we monitor her status for it. 2 10 and counting. The target for the apollo 11 astronauts for the moon will be at a distance of 218,096 miles away. We just passed the two minute mark in the countdown, t minus 1 54 and counting. The status board indicates that the oxidizers have now pressurized. We continue to build up pressure in all three stages. We have a minute to prepare for liftoff. T minus 1 35 on the apollo mission, the flight to land the first man on the moon. All indications are coming in. 1 25 and counting. Status indications show that it is completely pressurized. 82nd mark has now been passed. Youll go through at the 50 second launch in the countdown. Internal at 17 seconds leading up to the ignition sequence of 8. 9 seconds. Were approaching the 60 second mark on the apollo 11 mission. T60 seconds and counting. Weve passed t 60. 55 seconds and counting. Neil armstrong has reported back it has been a really smooth countdown. They passed the 50 second mark. Power transformer is complete. We are now on internal power. 40 seconds away from the apollo 11 liftoff. Walter you can see the water deluge down there now. Jack were still go for apollo 11, 30 seconds and counting. Astronauts report that it feels good. 25 seconds. 20 seconds and counting. T minus 15 seconds, guidance is internal. 12, 11, 10, nine, ignition sequence starts. 6, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1. Zero. All engines running. Liftoff, we have a lift off, 32 minutes past the hour. Liftoff on apollo 11. Walter oh, boy. Oh, boy, it looks good. Jack were clear. [rocket engines] [static] walter looks like a good trajectory so far. At the moment, on the way to the moon. Doesnt it . Good. Very good. Walter beautiful. Mile, altitudee 234 Miles Per Hour. 195 feet per second. Everythings held in place. Still see it . Yes, indeed. Still see a contrast. Walter see it beautifully on the screen here. Through the region of maximum dynamic pressure now. Everything looks good here. 1350 on the start. Looking at the screen and looking out the window. Standby for mode one, charlie. Mark one, charlie. Houston, you are go for staging. Walter thats for dropping the first stage, going to the second stage power. Youre hearing from Ken Mattingly at Mission Control in houston talking to the astronauts. Down range 35 miles high. Standing by. Walter and this is jack riley reporting, the voice of Mission Control. And ignition. Walter each of these events are very all engines, youre looking good. Roger, youre loud and clear, houston. Three minutes downrange, 70 miles, 30 minutes high, velocity 350 . Roger, we confirm. Neil armstrong confirming both of the engine separation and the launch escape tower separation. Houston, be advised the visual is go today. This is houston, roger that. What was that . The vision is ago. Vision is go. Houston, your guidance is converged. Youre looking good. Walter this protective cover comes off and the windows are not coded. Two miles velocity. 11 houston, you are go at four minutes. Walter the second stage of these, has millions of pounds of thrust. Thats an amazing camera that the space agency has there. We can still see the spacecraft. And at this point, its almost 93 miles high. 72 miles high, velocity 11,000 feet per second. Walter almost 8000 miles an hour. Its got to get to 17,500 get into earth orbit. We have another four minutes before the first. Booster says its looking got good at five minutes. Houston, youre go for five minutes. Walter the next critical moment will be the second stage jettison and the fourth stage ignition. Velocity, 4200 feet. Thank you. Beautifully,ming too. Everyones reporting go here in the control center. Roger 11, you are go from the ground, six minutes. My data is jumping all around. Apollo 11, this is houston. Outboard cut off at nine plus one one. Got it. Walter whatd he say was jumping around, wally . Something like the gauges . This is a sequence that arranges the staging between the second and third stage. The fuel uncovers a sensor starting the sequence. Sequence. Walter im sure its nothing of major significance. 1 17. Walter were looking at the empty launchpad and the water thats being poured over it to cool it. Eight plus 17, outboard at nine plus one, one. Walter so good is this delusion system. Velocity, 7058 per second. Walter its capable of keeping the damage to a minimum and they can turn around and use the Service Stands almost instantly. Yes, sir. Quite a change. Down on the ground, track is still go at 7 41. First to confirm. Roger, we confirm. Engines on board walter looks like another perfect launch. What a feat after mercury and gemini. Saturns on time launches, if wish we could get american railroads to run on these schedules. Was amazing is we finally got boosters here. You are go at eight minutes. Roger. We got viewership down here, too. [indiscernible] 11, this is houston, you are go for staging. Standby for remote port capability. Walter this would be the firing of the third stage in 15 seconds. Jacqueline they could get into get intothey could orbit using this Service Propulsion system. Altitude is 100 miles downrange. And, ignition. Walter ignition right on time. Thrusters, though 11. We have a good third stage now. Walter this burn lasts 2 25, and that brings the vehicle to its orbital speed. Up a couple thousand Miles Per Hour from where it was before. 23,000 feet per second. Downrange, 1000 miles. Altitude, 101 miles. D1 is on number five. 7 18. Walter third stage is a j2 engine. At 10 minutes, you are go. And roger, 11. Go. Walter i think i misidentified the capsule communicator a moment ago. The man who is communicating with the astronauts from Mission Control just called it the atlas. Apollo 11, this is houston, predicted cut off at 11 plus 42. 11 plus 42, correct. Downrange 1175 miles. 24,090 mile feet per second, altitude, 102 nautical miles. Walter there is former president johnson. Saying goodbye to a few of his friends in the stands. Apollo 11, this is houston. You are go at 11. Walter sharing with Vice President agnew, the official representative of president nixon. Vice president agnew is the top official in the administration. 25,254 feet per second. Walter we should get confirmation of orbital insertion in about 15 seconds now. Altitude 102. 8 nautical miles. S