Sending Americans Into Space

In the 1950s, the United States and the Soviet Union began programs for manned and unmanned scientific missions into space. The Soviets’ successful launch of the unmanned Sputnik I satellite in 1957 made Congress determined to jolt the U.S. space program into action. Winning the race to space became a political, scientific, and security priority. The United States intensified its efforts to be the first nation to send a man to the moon.

President John F. Kennedy’s Message to Congress, May 25, 1961	USAF Lunar Reference Mosaic LEM-1, 3rd Edition, July 1966	Apollo 11 Mission Commentary, Transcript, July 20, 1969	Men on the Moon, July 20, 1969