Overcoming the Soviet Challenge

When JFK announced his ambitions for a manned lunar landing, the Soviet Union was already ahead in the space race.

The USSR had successfully launched the first cosmonaut into low Earth orbit, placing America in a position where it had to catch up against significant odds. Nonetheless, JFK inspired the nation to achieve what many believed was unattainable.

He was instrumental in convincing Congress to significantly increase NASA’s funding to the unprecedented levels required to fulfill the nation’s lofty objectives in space.

This influx of funding enabled NASA to recruit a talented workforce of around 400,000 individuals, including scientists, engineers, and contractors. Thus, the space program became not just a scientific endeavor but also a substantial job creation initiative.

This mobilization of resources and talent was unparalleled since World War II and ultimately led to a historic achievement when Neil Armstrong made his first steps on the moon, famously stating: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Indeed, the challenges were immense. As the saying goes, “Space is hard.”

Consider contemporary space entrepreneurs like Elon Musk (SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin), and Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), who are all striving to expand commercial spaceflight.

The allure of space tourism encompasses activities such as leisure trips to low Earth orbit, visits to the International Space Station, and so-called space vacations, among other aspirations of the aerospace sector.

According to Future Market Insights, “The space tourism industry is still in its nascent stages but has the potential to evolve into a multi-billion-dollar market in the future. As technology progresses and costs decrease, space travel is anticipated to become more accessible to the general public, paving the way for a new era of exploration and discovery.”

JFK understood the historical importance of America leading in space science, exploration, and technology as a global superpower.

A Notable Challenge

John M. Logsdon, a space historian and former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, highlighted JFK’s significant contributions in his book Ten Presidents and NASA. He noted:

• “President Kennedy provided the fledgling agency with its early direction by challenging it to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade.”
• “In 1961, Kennedy set the United States on a path to enter and win the race to the moon.”
• “On May 25, 1961, he addressed a joint session of Congress to announce his decision to pursue a moon landing, backed by substantial financial commitments.”

“In the immediate aftermath of his speech, NASA’s budget was increased by 89 percent, followed by another 101 percent increase the next year.” — John M. Logsdon, space historian

The Moon Speech

As we express gratitude for President Kennedy this Thanksgiving, let's remember his powerful “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice University in Houston on September 12, 1962.

That day, JFK called for America to “become the world’s leading space-faring nation.”

> “We choose to go to the moon this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard,” JFK passionately declared. “This country was built by those who moved forward — and so will space.”

> “I consider the decision made last year to accelerate our space efforts as one of the most crucial decisions of my presidency.”

> “While we currently lag behind in manned flight, we do not intend to remain behind, and we shall catch up and advance this decade.”

> “This year’s space budget is three times what it was in January 1961 and exceeds the total of the previous eight years combined,” JFK stated during his pivotal speech.

JFK characterized the moon mission as “the most perilous, dangerous, and greatest adventure mankind has ever undertaken,” emphasizing its significance as part of a grand national endeavor.

The “Moon Speech” exemplifies the kind of unifying “great national effort” that America needs today if we aspire to excel in future space exploration.

Concluding Thoughts

Today, NASA remains a beacon of public sector innovation in space, with ambitious plans like landing the first female and male astronauts on the moon no earlier than November 2024 as part of the Artemis 2 mission.

Additionally, NASA is working on establishing a lunar base, which will serve as a launch point for potentially sending the first astronauts to Mars. The agency is closely collaborating with the aerospace industry through a public-private partnership.

The Apollo moon landing serves as a reminder of JFK’s enduring legacy as one of the most cherished presidents in American history. His remarkable leadership in space exploration has profoundly influenced our national interests in unparalleled ways.

In essence, America requires another leader like President Kennedy in the 2020s to mirror his groundbreaking leadership of the 1960s.

JFK charted a remarkable course for the nation to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges in space exploration, benefiting both the American people and the global community.

For this, we should all express our gratitude.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The final installment of this series (Part 4), coming soon, will focus on JFK’s leadership in civil rights.