America was built on technological inventions. The United States and the Soviet Union were still neck and neck to see who would be the first country to claim space. The two countries have sent rockets and explorers into space. However, one of the special goals they shared was to put the first people on the moon. In 1963, Americans wondered whether the president's death would also mean the end of the country's space program. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumed leadership of the nation. Lyndon quickly announced that the space program would continue as planned. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayWhen the last Gemini flight ended in 1966, the United States was able to take all the information it had gathered and build an even better rocket and bigger spacecraft. The Americans will be criticized on the next Apollo mission. For a while it seemed that the space program would never be a true success. In January 1967, three astronauts died when their Apollo One space capsule caught fire. The deaths of Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee. NASA halted all space missions for months. In late 1968, the United States launched the Apollo 8 spacecraft. On board, astronauts prepared to be the first to exit Earth's orbit. The rocket managed to get close to the Moon and orbit it 10 times, although it did not land on the Moon. Thanks to the success of Apollo 8, President Kennedy's commitment to putting a man on the Moon seemed within reach. On July 16, 1969, a huge rocket was launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida. The spaceship was the size of a 28-story building and right on top was Apollo 11. Three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins were ready to do what humans had never done done before. They would land on the Moon and make America the winner of the space race. One of the most beautiful moments in history happened. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 lunar module landed on the Moon. Leader Neil Armstrong climbed down the ship's ladder and onto the surface of the moon. “This is one small step for man, one giant leap for humanity.” The landing and journey back to Earth were uneventful. Remember: this is just one example. Request a document now customized by our expert writers.Customize EssayThe United States was honored to claim to be the first to land on the moon. Between 1969 and 1972 the country sent 6 manned missions to the Moon. 12 men walked on the crust of the moon. The nation seemed to pause and celebrate the end as the country experienced one of its most worrying ears.