Countdown is based on the Apollo moon mission. Players move around the board, Monopoly style, collecting and paying for various items necessary for their attempt to blast off to the moon (rocket parts, astronauts, fuel, launch pads etc.). Once a player has assembled his rocket and collected all of the other necessary components for the blast-off, an attempt to reach the moon is made. Just watch out for sabotage and espionage by spies from the other players. - BoardGameGeek