English - The Moon Project - Research Paper Example

Further imposing the challenge, Kennedy implied that even a nation possess the talent and resource necessary for a goal to be achieved only putting initiatives to acting on goals can ensure a nations dream to fulfillment (Kennedy). Kennedy laid upon America the goals of making reality out of the vision of putting a man on the face of the moon bringing the American flag above and ahead of space discovery among any nation. First, is a challenge of commitment, asking the American nation to commit in achieving the goal of bringing an American to the moon and back safely.

No single project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish… it will not be man going to the moon… it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there. (Kennedy) The succeeding goal challenges were set in providing additional budget and expenditures for additional projects in congruence with the moon project like the development of a Rover nuclear rocket, accelerating the use of space satellites for world-wide communications and a satellite system for the Weather Bureau’s world-wide weather observation (Kennedy). . Ending with a call to every scientist, every engineer, every serviceman, every technician, contractor, and civil servant to give personal pledge so that American nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the exciting adventure of space (Kennedy).

American-Russian race to space A number of political factors affected Kennedy's decision and the timing of it. In general, Kennedy felt great pressure to have the United States catch up to and overtake the Soviet Union in the space race (Garber). The United States and Russia competed with each other in developing space programs. During the 1960's and 1970's space race; both nations went under tremendous exploratory efforts in being the first nation to successfully conquer space (Smith).       Space travel began on October 4, 1957 when Russia launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth.

Man-made satellites are referred to as "artificial" because they are not a natural occurrence like the moon. These satellites orbit the earth for varying lengths of time depending on their size and distance from the earth, and they collect and transmit information that is used for a variety of purposes (Smith).   The second artificial satellite, Sputnik II, was launched in November of the same year carrying a dog named Laika, the first animal sent into orbit. As scientists studied how animals responded physically to space travel, it helped to prepare humans for the challenges under the same conditions (Smith).

  January 31 of 1958, United States first artificial satellite Explorer I, enters into orbit around the earth (“Race to the Moon”). The United States launched many other satellites after the success of Explorer 1, for the purpose