The custom of counting down to a rocket launch or other important event probably originated from the 1929 German silent film "The Girl in the Moon," directed by Fritz Lang. Technical adviser Dr. Hermann Oberth (who later worked on "Destination Moon"), in order to dramatize a realistic rocket launch, used a reverse countdown from 10 to 1, with the numbers being flashed on the screen. Many of the early rocket scientists, who were mostly German, were impressed with the movie and began to use the countdown for real launches.
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