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When you were a kid did you dream of being an astronaut? Did you what to go to the moon? Like many people this dream was a goal in this research paper I will prove that this dream became a reality to be the best at ones goals and see them through. President Kennedy showed us all he was a hero by getting America to support the American space program, and get three heroes on the moon.
On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite and caught America and the whole world off guard. This was the Soviet's first push in the historical "Space Race." There was great fear surrounding this launch; a certain question was on everyone's minds, could the Soviets send Nuclear weapons with ballistic missiles from Europe to the U.S.? Even before the U.S. could respond the Soviets launched Sputnik II carrying an increased payload and the first dog in space named Laika, it seemed the U.S. space program would never catch up. In order for the U.S. to win the Space Race they would have to succeed in putting a man in earth orbit, but it was on April 12, 1961 just four years after sputnik was launched, Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin went into earth orbit edging out the United States' chance to put the first man in space. It was on April 14, 1961 two days after the Soviets put the first man in space, when President John F. Kennedy decided to put faith in the still young NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) program. NASA, established on October 1, 1958, had the historical job of putting an American on the moon. It was on May 25, 1961 when Kennedy finally made public his commitment "to land an American safely on the moon by the end of the decade," (Shepard 28).
The pressure was on the NASA, but all eyes were on James E. Webb, NASA Administrator, who was not even certain the U.S. could beat the Soviets to the moon. Chief Scientist Hugh Dryden calculated cost to the Federal budget to put a man on the moon would be a staggering $40 billion (the entire federal budget then was $ 98 billion.) Kennedy's child-like interest in the space project led the U.S. on a great adventure through space.
Kennedy appointed Lyndon Johnson to balance the budget, so his promise to America was kept. Kennedy also took part in seeing two early space launches that put Alan Shepard and John Glenn in earth orbit. Excitedly Kennedy told people, "...

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... the moon. " Armstrong reported, " The view of the moon that we've be having recently is really spectacular." (Smith 15). The three astronauts went to sleep knowing that their goal was just below them. With little sleep the astronauts had breakfast and prepared for lunar entry. Every thing had to be perfect all buttons and dials were checked to see if they were in their proper place. Buzz and Neil climbed in the delicate lunar module and strapped in for their decent to the lunar surface. Collins knew there was a fifty- percent chance he could be alone if the lunar module failed. It took twelve minutes to reach the lunar surface. Touchdown was reported to the astronauts cause they could not see the surface of the moon. "We copy you down, Eagle." (Smith 18). "Houston, tranquillity base here. The Eagle has landed." (Smith 18).
Our goal was finished we safely landed a man on the moon. We have proven that our heroes were successful in leading us on a great journey through the first stage of space exploration, but were will we land next will a new president lead us on a journey to mars? Will there be new heroes to look up to? Only time will tell.

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