Shooting for the Moon The Space Race Power point created by Robert L. Martinez Primary Content Source: All the People by Joy Hakim Images as cited.

It was an outrageous idea, to expect to leave the earth’s atmosphere and make it to the moon, especially in the same century that people had first learned to fly. It was an outrageous idea, to expect to leave the earth’s atmosphere and make it to the moon, especially in the same century that people had first learned to fly.

We might not have tried it at all if it hadn’t been for Russia. When the Russians sent a satellite into space, called Sputnik, we couldn’t believe it. We might not have tried it at all if it hadn’t been for Russia. When the Russians sent a satellite into space, called Sputnik, we couldn’t believe it.

We Americans had the idea that we were better than others. It was a kind of national arrogance. We aren’t better or smarter than other people. We Americans had the idea that we were better than others. It was a kind of national arrogance. We aren’t better or smarter than other people.

Russia’s Sputnik got us energized. We didn’t want our communist foes to take over space. Russia’s Sputnik got us energized. We didn’t want our communist foes to take over space. Soviet control room

Then, in April 1961, the Russians sent a man rocketing into space. His name was Yuri Gagarin. Then, in April 1961, the Russians sent a man rocketing into space. His name was Yuri Gagarin.

The United States had a space agency, NASA, but we were behind the Russians, and we couldn’t stand the idea. The United States had a space agency, NASA, but we were behind the Russians, and we couldn’t stand the idea. Photograph provided by Robert L. Martinez Mr. Martinez visiting the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Photographed by Robert L. Martinez Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center, Florida (houses the Space Shuttles).

President John F. Kennedy made a speech announcing our intention to put a man on the moon “before the decade is out.” We were off on a space race. President John F. Kennedy made a speech announcing our intention to put a man on the moon “before the decade is out.” We were off on a space race.

This moon trip became the will of a nation. It took the talent of thousands of brains, it took the lives of some astronauts (who were killed in explosive misfires). This moon trip became the will of a nation. It took the talent of thousands of brains, it took the lives of some astronauts (who were killed in explosive misfires). Astronauts White, Grissom, and Chaffee

The first step toward the moon was flight into space. Texan Alan B. Shepard was squeezed into a spacesuit in a space capsule just big enough to hold him. The first step toward the moon was flight into space. Texan Alan B. Shepard was squeezed into a spacesuit in a space capsule just big enough to hold him. Alan Shepard

This was the Mercury project, named for the swift messenger of the ancient Roman gods. (The space craft was named Freedom 7). This was the Mercury project, named for the swift messenger of the ancient Roman gods. (The space craft was named Freedom 7).

The first American manned flight into space lasted 15 minutes. The first American manned flight into space lasted 15 minutes.

The Mercury flights, there were 6 of them, were an important first step. One Mercury flight lasted 34 hours. The Mercury flights, there were 6 of them, were an important first step. One Mercury flight lasted 34 hours. 7 Original Mercury Astronauts

Next came the Gemini program, named for twin stars. They were two-manned flights intended to test docking techniques. Next came the Gemini program, named for twin stars. They were two-manned flights intended to test docking techniques.

Gemini connected with a target vehicle, named Agena. The spacecraft touched noses and clamped themselves together in space. Gemini connected with a target vehicle, named Agena. The spacecraft touched noses and clamped themselves together in space.

The Gemini astronauts walked outside the capsule in space suits, into outer space, but with a cord that firmly tied them to their ship. The Gemini astronauts walked outside the capsule in space suits, into outer space, but with a cord that firmly tied them to their ship. Photographed by Robert L. Martinez My daughter visiting the Kennedy Space Center In Florida.

On the morning of July 16,1969, five months before President Kennedy’s deadline of the end of the decade, the sun was bright and the skies were clear at Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast. On the morning of July 16,1969, five months before President Kennedy’s deadline of the end of the decade, the sun was bright and the skies were clear at Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast.

Some 8,000 people were packed into a special viewing area; others jammed nearby roads and beaches to view the launching of Apollo 11. Some 8,000 people were packed into a special viewing area; others jammed nearby roads and beaches to view the launching of Apollo 11.

Nearby, three men sat strapped elbow to elbow inside a narrow capsule on top of a Saturn rocket that stood as tall as a 30- story building. Nearby, three men sat strapped elbow to elbow inside a narrow capsule on top of a Saturn rocket that stood as tall as a 30- story building.

Photograph taken by Robert L. Martinez

Neil Armstrong, a civilian pilot, was in the left seat. Some said he was the nation’s best jet test pilot. Neil Armstrong, a civilian pilot, was in the left seat. Some said he was the nation’s best jet test pilot.

Edwin Aldrin sat in the middle. Everyone called him by his school nickname, Buzz. Some of his scientific ideas had gone into this mission. Edwin Aldrin sat in the middle. Everyone called him by his school nickname, Buzz. Some of his scientific ideas had gone into this mission.

Michael Collins, another air force officer and test pilot, was to pilot the command ship, which would orbit the moon while the other two men descended to the lunar surface in the landing vehicle. Michael Collins, another air force officer and test pilot, was to pilot the command ship, which would orbit the moon while the other two men descended to the lunar surface in the landing vehicle.

Photographed by Robert L. Martinez

The rocket, named Saturn V, belched fire and its own billowing clouds, lifted off, and seemed to rise slowly. The rocket, named Saturn V, belched fire and its own billowing clouds, lifted off, and seemed to rise slowly.

But that was just an illusion, after two and a half minutes Saturn V was 41 miles above Earth. It was traveling at 5,400 mph when its first stage fell away. But that was just an illusion, after two and a half minutes Saturn V was 41 miles above Earth. It was traveling at 5,400 mph when its first stage fell away.

Mission Control, Kennedy Space Center, Florida Photographed by Robert L. Martinez

The next stage took the astronauts 110 miles above Earth, carrying them at 14,000 mph, and was jettisoned (dropped away). The next stage took the astronauts 110 miles above Earth, carrying them at 14,000 mph, and was jettisoned (dropped away).

The third stage got them to 17,000 mph. they were now weightless and orbiting the earth. It was only 17 minutes after liftoff. The third stage got them to 17,000 mph. they were now weightless and orbiting the earth. It was only 17 minutes after liftoff.

After they had circled the globe twice, the third-stage engine fired the ship away from Earth’s orbit. It would take three days to get to the moon. After they had circled the globe twice, the third-stage engine fired the ship away from Earth’s orbit. It would take three days to get to the moon.

Television took us into space and then put us on the rocky, craggy, pockmarked moon. When the two men stepped out of the landing vehicle, we were there. I too, was watching. Television took us into space and then put us on the rocky, craggy, pockmarked moon. When the two men stepped out of the landing vehicle, we were there. I too, was watching.

It was an American spaceship, but it was a world event. It was an American spaceship, but it was a world event.

Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s crunchy soil and said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was an understatement. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s crunchy soil and said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was an understatement.

The view from the moon was of one Earth, it was not one of small, separate nations. The view from the moon was of one Earth, it was not one of small, separate nations.

Photograph provided by Robert L. Martinez Austin Renee Martinez checking out the Lunar Rover.

Life sized mock-up of Space Shuttle Kennedy Space Center, Florida 1996.

Space Shuttle on Launching Pad, Summer 2007 Photographed by Robert L. Martinez