Kennedy's Moon Speech
We set sail on this new sea
because there is new knowledge to be gained,
and new rights to be won,
and they must be won and used for the progress of all people.
For space science, like nuclear science and all technology,
has no conscience of its own.
Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man,
and only if the United States
occupies a position of pre-eminence
can we help decide whether this new ocean
will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war.
I do not say that we should or will go unprotected
against the hostile misuse of space
any more than we go unprotected
against the hostile use of land or sea,
but I do say that space can be explored and mastered
without feeding the fires of war,
without repeating the mistakes that man has made
in extending his writ around this globe of ours.
There is no strife, no prejudice,
no national conflict in outer space as yet.
Its hazards are hostile to us all.
Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind,
and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation
may never come again.
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, fly the Atlantic?
Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the moon.
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 which we intend to win, and the others, too.
Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory,
who was to die on Mount Everest,
was asked why did he want to climb it.
He said, "Because it is there."
Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it,
and the moon and the planets are there,
and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there.
And, therefore, as we set sail
we ask God's blessing
on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure
on which man has ever embarked.
Thank you.