“That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind”, a phrase over 450 million people heard live at 8:17 PM on July 20th 1969, but also words you most likely heard in your elementary school history class. The landing on the Moon not only brought America together in awe of the great accomplishment, but it also showed the endless possibilities of capitalist economies which were not commonly recognized. Neil Armstrong not only proved that exploration to the Moon was possible, but he made a profound impact on mankind, the future of science, and symbolized the power of exploration. Over 450 million people were clustered around a TV to watch Neil take the first step on to a floating rock over 200,000 miles from Earth. Neil Armstrong's courage …show more content…
Something that is not commonly talked about is the need for Neil during the flight, and especially the landing. The trip to the Moon was not Neil's first time in space, and would not be the first time he faced in-flight challenges. During his flight on Gemini VIII, he began spinning and rotating. When Neil and the other astronauts undocked, Gemini’s rotation increased to the point where the crew could black out and die, and Armstrong’s relaxed handling of the situation saved their lives (National Air and Space). Armstrong was extremely experienced flying, and got his pilots licence at just 16. He attended Purdue University on a naval scholarship, and studied aeronautical engineering (designing, developing, and building airplanes). During the same time, the navy trained Neil as a fighter pilot in Florida, later interrupting his studies to fly 78 combat missions in the Korean War. Douglas Brinkely, the president of the New York Historical Society, also talks about the profound control and tranquility Neil carries. He writes “He clearly demonstrated how he had earned his legendary reputation for self control” (THE MAN AND THE …show more content…
The increased interest in lunar science helped NASA make faster and more profound technology and discoveries after the landing, ultimately contributing to the advancements of the travel to Mars. Alongside the advancement in technology, the Moon landing also caused a great amount of national pride in America, and proved the strength of the United States. Previously, capitalist countries were believed to have a disadvantage when it came to technology and discovery. When the USSR was able to successfully complete the Sputnik, Lunik, Vostok, and Voshod missions, there was a uncertainty that free market economics could achieve these great revolutionary accomplishments on such a big scale as a human moon landing (Nick Spall, The impact of Apollo). With the Cold War occurring simultaneously, this was a huge moment for America, and proving their power. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” (John F. Kennedy). The Moon landing, made possible by Neil Armstrong, will continue to be impactful on all of
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," said by Neil Armstrong as he took his first steps on the moon during the NASA Apollo 11 expedition to the moon. No man has ever been to the moon before and NASA, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was the first to get someone to land on the moon. NASA has had many great accomplishments in exploring the "new frontier" that have affected the United States ever since it was first created in July 1958. The idea for NASA first started when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite on October 4, 1957. United States started up its own space travel program and started to work on its own projects that would be better in than the Soviet Union's. This all started the great space race. It was a big race between the Soviet Union and the United States to see who could learn and discover the most. The United States and Soviet Union started building and sending satellites and space ships. Then they tried to see who could make a suit and ship that would be able to allow a living thing to go up in space. They tested out all of the equipment with monkeys and dogs, seeing what would work. Many animals did die in the process but by the results of their testing they were able to build suits and ships that allow human beings to go up in space. Even though they were able to create these machines, that doesn't mean that they didn't have their difficulties and dangers. Two space shuttles were crashed or blown up. There were many key factors that they had learned to fix that resulted in the crashing of those ships. They have made many discoveries and accomplishments like having the first astronauts walk on the moon.
John F. Kennedy once said, "No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space...We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”. The main motive for this quote was to ensure that the United States wanted to beat out the Soviets in the space race. Ever since the Soviets tried to advance on the moon, the United States wanted to be the first successful nation to accomplish the first ever moon landing. At the time, the tension between the United States and the Soviets was very strong because the Cold War just ended and neither nation wanted to lose to each other in the space race. Just as the United States planned their mission to the moon, the Soviets were the very first nation to ever settle on space. The U.S. as well as President Kennedy were shocked to see the Soviets be the first nation to fly in space. The United States had to come up with a plan in order to beat out the soviets, by becoming the very first nation to ever land on the moon. Overall, it is clear that the United States hoaxed the moon landing in order to beat out the Soviet Union in the space race through observations, evidence from a Hollywood studio, and allowing NASA to pull off the Apollo mission.
"First, 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 the Earth."- John F. Kennedy. On a warm July night in 1969, this dream came true. Millions of people sat captivated in front of their TVs witnessing one of the most monumental events in history, Neil Armstrong walking gracefully on the moon. This event in US history changed the way we look at space forever. Political issues such as the Vietnam War and foreign affairs were on the forefront of American's minds. Thousands of people came peacefully together in a historical concert event called Woodstock. Children were introduced to a place called "Sesame Street" and Heavy Metal meant more than just an old car. The year 1969 impacted American's lives today in politics, science, sports, art, entertainment and daily living.
On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong planted the first human footprints in the lunar soil. The United States had accomplished their goal in sending men to the moon. They managed to not only send them 238,857 mi. (384,403 km) into space to our neighbor celestial body, but also send them back with a successful flight to our mother earth. This seems like a difficult task for a country that was behind Russia in space exploration at the time.
Early on in the race, the USSR was very successful. In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, which triggered the start of the space race (John F. Kennedy). The United States began to scramble, trying to catch up with the Soviets. However, soon after, the Soviet Union completed another huge success. They sent the first man to orbit Earth (John F. Kennedy). In 1961 the USSR’s Yuri Gagarin became the first human to ever orbit the Earth (John F. Kennedy). The United States was still unsuccessful and beginning to look weak. After that, America got serious. On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy asked Congress for around eight billion dollars to build up the space program over the next five years (John F. Kennedy). The president declared, “This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth” (John F. Kennedy).
Who was one of the most inspirational men of all time? Who was the first man to land on the moon? Who was the astronaut that will never be forgotten? That man’s name is Neil Armstrong.
Apollo 13 was a mission that some may grow to learn was a failure; It was in fact the complete opposite. Space entry was improved immensely, with the efforts and struggles gained from previous missions. In addition, one of the victims of this mission, Jim Lovell, “believed it was a success. Everyone was tested on their ability to work together and that is how Apollo 13 succeeded” (Anastasio 90). Future space entry missions would not have been as successful as they are without previous missions bettering the space program.
Did you know that Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon? Neil Armstrong was a hard working astronaut who accomplishes his dream in America in 1960. First, he accomplishes his dream. Another reason, is that he is building a rocket. Finally, he flew to the moon.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” was stated by Neil Armstrong once a national goal was accomplished. Landing successfully on the moon was a major goal for astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were honored to be the very first of mankind to step foot on the moon, and allowed America to set future goals for outer-space journeys. With the assigned Apollo mission, America was granted much needed hope. Astronauts of NASA in the Apollo Program accomplished John F. Kennedy’s goal of placing the first man on the moon safely for the United States.
“On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first men to walk on the moon. Just little kids at the time, my brother and I watched history in the making.
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Those words, spoken by Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, have passed into history. Their emotional delivery, their meaning, and the historically monumental event they commemorate make them some of the most famous words ever spoken. Anyone who was old enough to remember the time can probably remember exactly where he or she was and what he or she was doing when man first walked on the moon. Along with the inscription on the plaque placed at the point of the landing ("we came in peace for all mankind"), Armstrong's words are often enough to bring tears to the eyes of nearly every American and indeed much of the world. As great an accomplishment as man's landing on the moon is, however, there are other momentous events that often seem forgotten in the glare of celebrity afforded to the space program's manned missions.
As important of an endeavor as travelling to the moon was, a definite purpose to it is not immediately clear. However, it was a remarkable accomplishment for mankind, and the United States wanted to lead it. Millions of people watched the televised event because they knew this was an incredible advancement for humans (Redd). As Neil Armstrong made the first step, he summed up the point that this event would forever be an important achievement to the human race, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" (Armstrong 268). At times it may seem that the development of new technology is stalling, but the moon landing proves that man is and will continue to make advancements. Only 66 years passed between the first airplane by the Wright Brothers and the moon landing (Stimson).
“On July 16, 1969 the world watched in anticipation as three men were hurtled skyward in a rocket bound for the moon.” (news.nationalgeographic.com). This was the Apollo 11 spacecraft, the first successful manned mission to the moon. This mission was the product of the space race (race to see who would go into outer space first, against the Soviet Union). This goal was set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961 and he promised that we would be the first to step on the moon by the end of the decade. The Apollo 11 mission is often cited as the greatest achievement in human history. (news.nationalgeographic.com)
Neil Armstrong looked at it not only as a great triumph for America, but also for the human race when he said "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" on his first step on the moon (Dunbar). On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech about what he called "urgent national needs" at a stadium at Rice University in Houston, Texas (“NASA Moon Landing”). In that speech, he challenged America to "commit itself to landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth by the end of the decade"(Schlager and Lauer). 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.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was July 20 1969, the day that reshaped our nation and gave us unparalleled dreams for the future. The impact of the day goes far beyond our pride and nationalism; that day would change space exploration and technology forever. Just like a shooting star, that day would give us a glimpse of hope. A chance to see an event so breathtaking and defying, it would be man’s greatest accomplishment in the 20th century. As millions of people watched from their TV sets, a rush of euphoria came over the nation as Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the surface of the moon. It was the first time in the history of mankind that we would step on the surface of another celestial body. John F. Kennedy dared us to dream, he inspired the nation to reach for the moon, to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world. The Space Race was symbolic of many things. Our future as the technically dominate nation was secured in place; just as secure as Old Glory would be, when she was driven down into the soil of the moon. We not only reached the moon, we conquered it as a nation; united.