Bob Socks, a Titusville resident, remembers standing in crowds of 1 million people in Brevard County during the Apollo 11 and 17 launches in 1969. He says the events drew the largest crowds he’s ever seen, though population and crowd-counting methods were different back then. Socks, who ran an Orange Julius in Miracle City Mall at the time, recalls the excitement leading up to the July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launch. "The Mall was the centerpiece of Titusville," he said. "We had the biggest day in our history." Socks and his family opened the Orange Julius at 5 a.m. that day, selling drinks for a dime and hot dogs for a quarter. His father squeezed orange juice by hand until his hands cupped. The mall closed at 9 a.m., and the group went to the Miracle City parking lot to watch the launch. "As far as you could see were people," Socks said. The area across from the mall was a sand lot, limiting the view. Socks described hearing the countdown and watching history unfold. He and his family worked until 5 p.m. before attending a cocktail party in the Royal Oak neighborhood. Socks also recalls the Apollo 17 launch in December 1972, though he says the crowds were smaller than Apollo 11’s. He estimates Brevard’s population was around 200,000 in 1969, compared to over 600,000 today. "Don’t forget, this was more than 50 years ago," he said. "Crowd counting wasn’t as accurate as it is now." Socks is now looking forward to the Artemis II launch, which will carry astronauts beyond the moon. "I’m eager to see what happens next," he said. "It’s history in the making again."