JFK COMMITS USA TO MOON LANDING "BEFORE THIS DECADE IS OUT"
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, in an address to Congress, committed the United States to a landing on the moon "before this decade is out."
The President said...
"Now it is time...for a great new American enterprise, a time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement. I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth."
JFK added that nothing else would be "so difficult or expensive to accomplish."
The President saw this effort as truly national. He said...
"It will not be one man going to the moon, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there."
JFK+50 NOTE
U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969 fulfilling the first part of President Kennedy's goal. Following close behind was Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins, the third member of the Apollo 11 crew, remained in lunar orbit.
SOURCE
"May 25, 1961: JFK's Moon Shot Speech to Congress", by space.com staff, May 25, 2011, www.space.com/
Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
July 20, 1969
Photo by Neil Armstrong
NASA Image
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, in an address to Congress, committed the United States to a landing on the moon "before this decade is out."
The President said...
"Now it is time...for a great new American enterprise, a time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement. I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth."
JFK added that nothing else would be "so difficult or expensive to accomplish."
The President saw this effort as truly national. He said...
"It will not be one man going to the moon, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there."
JFK+50 NOTE
U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969 fulfilling the first part of President Kennedy's goal. Following close behind was Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins, the third member of the Apollo 11 crew, remained in lunar orbit.
SOURCE
"May 25, 1961: JFK's Moon Shot Speech to Congress", by space.com staff, May 25, 2011, www.space.com/
Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
July 20, 1969
Photo by Neil Armstrong
NASA Image
