Apollo 11: The Greatest Achievement in Human History Final Version “On July 16, 1969, the world watched with bated breath three men rush skyward in a rocket bound for the moon. » (news.nationalgeographic.com). This was the Apollo 11 spacecraft, the first successful manned mission to the Moon. This mission was a product of the Space Race (a race to see who would go first into space, against the Soviet Union). This goal was set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961, and he promised that we would be the first to walk on the Moon by the end of the decade. The Apollo 11 mission is often cited as the greatest achievement in human history. (news.nationalgeographic.com)The space race was a product of the Cold War. This was an effort to prove technological superiority, but on the other hand, there was also fear on both sides that weapons of mass destruction were being put into orbit. In 1957, the Soviet Union sent the 184-pound Sputnik 1 satellite into Earth's orbit. It was the first artificial satellite and the first artificial object to be placed in Earth's orbit. Subsequently, they also sent the first animal into space, the dog Laika. In 1958, the United States also launched its first satellite into orbit, named Explorer 1. The Soviet space program advanced again in 1959. The Soviet Union launched Luna 2, which was the first space probe to reach the Moon . In April 1961, the Soviet Union achieved the ultimate success by sending the first human into space. The name of the Russian cosmonaut was Yuri Gagarin, who made a 108-minute suborbital flight aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. A month later, Alan Shepard became the American in space aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft. continuing from there, each nation passed... middle of paper ...... tronauts, who were carried with them to the surface of the moon. One flag was dedicated to the House of Representatives and the other to the Senate. (en.wikipedia.org) Before the Apollo 11 landing, Aldrin said, "We believe this is a symbol of the insatiable curiosity of all humanity to explore the unknown." » (space.about.com) The mission was accomplished and Kennedy's dream came true. America was the first to send men to the Moon and return them safely to Earth. (space.about.com) Works Cited “Apollo 11.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 21, 2014. Web. April 22, 2014.Anne, Minard, “Apollo 11 at 40 years old: facts, myths, photos and more. » National Geographic. National Geographic Society, July 20, 2009. Web. April 22, 2014.Green, Nick. “Apollo 11 Mission – First humans on the Moon.” About.com Space / Astronomy. Np, and Web. April 22. 2014.