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We have always dreamed about reaching the heavens. From ancient civilizations to the modern day world, our obsession of going into space has grown from studying the stars to actual exploration of space. We have come a long way since primitive charts of constellations. From telescopes to satellites, we as a population have progressed greatly in the world of technology. In a mere forty years, we have had more technological advances than the Industrial Revolution.
It was formed because of the Sputnik crisis of confidence. NASA inherited the earlier National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and other government organizations, and immediately began working on options for human space flight (Roland, 1999). NASA was first called upon to find out if humans could survive in space in Project Mercury. This was then followed by Project Gemini, which built upon the successes of Project Mercury and used a spacecraft built for two astronauts. NASA then turned their attention to the moon in Project Apollo, which was successful in 1969 when the Apollo 11 mission first put a man on the moon.
In 1962, the first American orbited Earth. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong became the first human to travel the moon. The space race changed world pattern. It consolidated US position and weakened USSR. Although the space race spent huge amount of taxpayer’s money, it ultimately changed American views, restored people’s confidence from losing Vietnam War, strengthened US economy, and significantly affected American future.
In 1969, millions of Americans watched in rapture as the first human being set foot on the alien landscape of the moon. The country rejoiced in this exhibition of our abilities, this application of our knowledge. Now, with the decimation of NASA’s budget, those glory days are over.Government funding for the space agency is at an all-time low, and the space shuttle program is being retired. No longer can the United States send people to the moon, or into space at all for that matter. The country that first reached the moon – the country that once had the most impressive space program in the world – is forced to hitch rides on Russian and Chinese shuttles (Borenstein).
N.p., 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. Kruse, Richard. "Space Exploration Quotes."
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Fleming). The Soviet Union had beat the United States into space. However, the U.S was the first man of the moon. John F. Kennedy wanted to beat the Soviet Union to the moon, since they beat the U.S into space. Apollo 11 was the first spacecraft to ever land on the moon.
This became known as Kennedy's challenge and the idea was to outperform the Soviets. While the Soviets were off to a better start with the launch of Sputnik I, we soon rose to the challenge and accomplished our goal only eight years later on June 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin safely landed on the moon. With the great accomplishments of Apollo 11, America had bettered the Soviets and established superiority in space. "If we can send a man to the moon, why can't we cure cancer, cl... ... middle of paper ... ...years behind then we are in technology today. The moon landing is one of the most significant events in American history because of the superiority and triumph it had given the United States.
The visage of a bulky, awkward colonial explorer flickered on television sets throughout the United States on that day in 1969. It was an event that signified much more than what was being relayed. All watched in admiration and awe as the first steps on the moon were made by Neil Armstrong, a lowly Earth creature never meant to break free of its planet’s atmosphere. But it did. And it was an American.