Apollo

=What impact did the moon landing have on America? =



= Summary: = The first successful landing on the moon took place on July 20, 1969. The Apollo 11 mission included the three American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The shuttle was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida by the recently created governmental space exploration program “N.A.S.A.” While on the moon, the astronauts performed various experiments and collected samples of lunar soil and rock. An American flag was left as a symbol of the country's unprecedented achievement. The crew returned to Earth on July 24, 1969 and landed in the Pacific Ocean in the Columbia Shuttle. America had displayed its technological capabilities to the world and effectively ended the space race with the Soviet Union.

Watch footage of the moon landing: media type="youtube" key="RMINSD7MmT4" height="405" width="500" align="center" = Introduction: = In 1961, President Kennedy promised to put an American man on the moon by the end of the decade. The United States was engaged in a contentious “space race” with the Soviet Union, and Kennedy believed America was falling behind. (To learn some information about the Space Race check out the hippocampus video!) The Soviets were the first to launch a satellite, Sputnik, into orbit in 1957, and the United States trailed with the Explorer I in 1958. After several unsuccessful launchings, the United States finally accomplished landing men on the moon on July 20, 1969. The Soviets saw defeat while America celebrated its technological achievement. While Cold War tension between the Soviet Union and the United States increased before the moon landing, cooperation ensued after the moon landing. The National Aeronautical Space Administration developed several new technologies to aid the astronauts for the moon landing and in turn improved the lives of Americans. Popular culture either celebrated or criticized the moon landing as a part of the "Space Age." The first landing on the moon affected the relationship between the U.S. and Soviet Union, inspired new technology, and influenced popular culture.



= Primary Source: =

In this document, there is a history-making picture of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. Notice that the caption was one that would grab anyone's attention by saying, "U.S. Puts First Men On Moon." This moment in history is clearly meant to be seen with its bold lettering. The Saint Paul Pioneer Press printed this newspaper on July 21, 1969, only one day after the Apollo spacecraft was launched and three days before it returned to Earth. It displays America's celebration of having a member of the United States be the first to walk on the moon. There are articles about Nixon interviewing the astronauts and how Armstrong's step was a huge leap in the advancement of technology.

Technology

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