This book describes some of the more interesting aspects of life at Cape Canaveral and the U.S. missile systems that were developed there through the eyes of a young engineer, fresh out of college, who was indoctrinated into the profession during one of the most turbulent times in U.S. history. It briefly describes rocket engines, rocket engine propellants, and the various missile systems developed during the Cold War with the U.S.S.R. It goes "behind the scenes" in discussing problems experienced during an actual countdown operation with the Atlas Missile. It concludes with a candid narrative by the author of his sometimes serious, sometimes humorous experiences at Cape Canaveral that took him close to some of the people that made U.S. history in space flight and space exploration.