After the end of the Second World War, there were a series of events that turned The United States and the Soviet Union against each other, leading to the Cold War era in which both countries sought to claim dominance in the world. The Cold War not only had a defense edge, but a competitive one as well; which side of the world could develop their technology better and faster?
The race for the development of new technology influenced both foreign and domestic policies. In this speech at Rice University, President Kennedy indicated a support for the development of a space program, with the goal of being the first to go to the moon. At around 9:03, you can hear the most important part of his speech, that “We choose to go to the moon … not because they are easy, but because they are hard”:
In addition to the iconic quote, he mentioned why American participation in space is so critical to the world of science:
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. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say the we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours.
The speech would mark the beginning of a space race between the US and the USSR> Although he would not live to see these programs in action, his legacy will always be linked to the development of the American space program.
(Speech courtesy of NASA Video, and the full speech can be found at: https://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm)
The Apollo- Soyuz Test Project 