Part I: Prologue

The passage of time blurs many details. Part One is intended to bring back into focus some of the facts, circumstances, and background of space exploration. The opening section of chapter 1 briefly recapitulates the flight of Apollo 11-the first lunar landing mission-and provides the opportunity to introduce some of the hardware and nomenclature of the Apollo-Saturn program. A historical overview of rocketry, including the main threads of Saturn’s origins, provides a background for the scope and boldness of Apollo 11 and the Saturn adventure in the chapters that follow.