In 1957, Americans were shocked when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space. In a desperate effort to catch up, the US created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). By Kennedy’s first year in office, not only had the Soviets sent a dog into space, but also Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the earth. Determined to restore the prestige of the US in the space competition against the Soviet Union, Kennedy called for large amounts of funding to be used to “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to earth”. During Kennedy’s administration, the US made great strides in space, with Alan Shepherd becoming the first American in space and John Glenn the first American to orbit the earth. Finally, after several years and billions of dollars, the US successfully landed men on the moon with the fateful Apollo 11 flight. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to step on the moon. Apollo 11 helped restore the prestige of America while also asserting the dominance of the US in all affairs concerning the final frontier.
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