The successful moon landing of Apollo 11 in July 1969 marked the fulfillment of the goal President John F. Kennedy set for the United States in his special message to Congress on May 25, 1961: “of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”
Newspapers and Periodicals Division, Library of Congress
"’The Eagle Has Landed’—Two Men Walk on the Moon" The Washington Post, July 21, 1969
The Space Race
As an outgrowth of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union began the "space race" in the 1950s. By competing to make important advances in space exploration, both nations sought to advance not only scientific but also political and security objectives. The Soviets launched the first satellite in 1957 and put the first astronaut into orbit in 1961. In response, the House and Senate established science committees and President John F. Kennedy made space exploration a national priority. He recommended to Congress that the U.S. be first to land a man on the moon, an inspiring goal that was achieved in 1969.
The successful moon landing of Apollo 11 in July 1969 marked the fulfillment of the goal President John F. Kennedy set for the United States in his special message to Congress on May 25, 1961: “of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”
Newspapers and Periodicals Division, Library of Congress
