Space Exploration

Archive Report

Efforts to oyertake soviet space Lead

American Decision to Eanter Rase to the Moon

Four years after launching of the first Russian sputnik, Oct. 4, 1957, the rocket program of the United States finally is hitting its stride. Ever-larger payloads are being projected into outer space in fairly rapid succession. Speed-up of the program in the past few months has been due not only to the challenge of Soviet successes in manned flight but also to President Kennedy's dedication of the nation to an all-out effort to launch a manned expedition to the moon before the end of the decade.

In a special message to Congress on May 25, the President said he believed “we should go to the moon” even though “the lead obtained by the ...

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