Space Quote: Why the Moon?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): President John F. Kennedy addressing a crowd at Rice University’s stadium in Houston
reaffirming his support for America’s space program including landing a man on the Moon. (NASA)

“But why, some say the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why – 35 years ago – why fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon, we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one in which we intend to win, and the others too.“

-Statement by President John F. Kennedy at Rice University in Houston on September 12, 1962 discussing plans to send a man to the Moon. Next month, NASA and Rice University in Houston will host multiple events from September 10-12 celebrating the 60th anniversary of his historic speech.

Credit: NASA