10 firsts from NASA's first 50 years

Growing up in Huntsville in the 60's was a great experience. Playing in the shadows of the Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal we could all hear the testing of the Saturn V first stage and felt like we were connected to this grand new adventure. At 13 I somehow managed to talk my parents into letting me fly alone down to Canaveral to witness the launching of Apollo 11. I stayed with a 'friend of a friend' of my dad's. He worked at Kennedy and on the way into work the night before the launch he dropped me off on a beach inside the gates somewhere (As I was by myself without an escort I couldn't hang around the VIP bleachers). There were a few other people sleeping on the beach that night to keep me company. I don't think I slept much as my mind and imagination was racing. I just kept a frozen gaze at the majestic Saturn V bathed in white lights across the water. It reminded me of a massive candle. I don't have a lot of memories for those 12 hours but I recall vividly -- as if it was yesterday -- the launch. First the visual spectacle -- silent for a few seconds and then the incredible crackle that sound like thousands of far off firecrackers. It will be a vision burned that will remain with me forever. The only regret I have is not having the foresight to bring a camera. However, whenever I see a photo or video of a Saturn V launch I always know if it was the Apollo 11 launch. Something about the sky that day was unlike any other launch I ever witnessed. Its as if I had memorized the cloud patterns.