Universe Today | Jason Major | 2012 Sep 12
“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people.” – John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962Click to play embedded YouTube video.
On this day, 50 years ago, on a warm, sunny morning in Houston, Texas, President John F. Kennedy delivered a now-famous speech to 40,000 spectators at Rice University, a speech that committed the United States to step beyond the boundaries of our world, to go beyond low-Earth orbit and eventually, successfully (and indeed before the decade was out!) land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth.
It was an inspiring speech, a pivotal moment for the entire space industry as well as for the entire country. (Would that we saw more overt dedication to space exploration from our leaders today!)