JFK 60 Years Later: Moonshot was Longshot for USA (Part 2)

President Kennedy’s bold vision helped win Space Race with Soviets…

As Americans prepare to gather nationwide for Thanksgiving next week, let’s also pause to pay tribute to one of our greatest presidents, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

This year’s Thanksgiving Day falls on the calendar exactly one day after the date JFK was gunned down in Dallas six decades ago.

All generations can learn valuable lessons from JFK’s presidency. This is particularly apparent for Gen Z, who are growing up in tumultuous times oddly reminiscent of the societal upheaval of the 1960s.

This is Part 2 of a limited series examining leadership lessons by JFK in the context of space exploration in general, and the groundbreaking moon landing (moonshot) in particular.

With that in mind, it’s instructive to recall how JFK’s vital leadership paved the way in facilitating the historic Apollo space missions which solidified America’s global dominance in space exploration.

Below are three vital leadership examples from JFK in the context of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

1. Formulate and effectively communicate a bold vision to unify the nation.

2. Foster innovative thinking and leverage new technology to advance science.

3. Take big risks to demonstrate the immense possibilities of human ingenuity.

This chapter of history is worth recalling as the USA aspires to land both women and men (together) on the moon no earlier than November 2024 per NASA’s Artemis II mission.

This mission is in furtherance of reported plans to ultimately build a permanent American lunar base as a springboard to landing astronauts on Mars, among goals.

The 35th president’s courageous actions resulted in historic accomplishments which altered the course of American history for the greater good.

Tremendous Triumphs

During the early 1960s, a manned moonshot was a major longshot for America.

Our tremendous triumphs in space may not have been possible without the admirable leadership and forward-thinking vision of President Kennedy, who famously told the American people:

“We choose to go to the moon…”

JFK artfully laid the foundation for the Apollo space program which successfully landed men on the moon on July 20, 1969, and returned them safely to Earth from 240,000 miles away.

The Apollo 11 mission was so dangerous that President Nixon’s speechwriters drafted an obituary address to the nation in order to honor the astronauts in case of a mission failure, which was one of several anticipated possible outcomes.

The success of the Apollo space program yielded countless scientific and technological discoveries which have since altered the course of society for the greater good — and, by extension, the human race.

Improbable Dream

While much focus has been directed toward the heroic Apollo 11 astronauts, and rightfully so, we should likewise pay homage to the heroic efforts of President Kennedy.

JFK led the charge for the USA to become the first nation in world history to land astronauts on the moon and return them safely — and in a specified time period, no less.

President Kennedy inspired the nation to thrive in space through NASA’s building of the powerful Saturn V rocket, in addition to the infrastructure and architecture of the celebrated Apollo program.

JFK’s cogent communication skills catalyzed the public, Congress and NASA to believe the improbable dream of landing men on the moon by the end of the 1960s, even though that possibility initially appeared remote.

Unfortunately, JFK would not live to see his fearless vision bear fruit when the Eagle touched down on the lunar surface.

The unparalleled success of the moonshot endeavor might not have happened at all without JFK leading the charge.

Final Thoughts

The Apollo 11 mission turned JFK’s bold vision into a shining reality, while restoring public confidence in America during a turbulent and uncertain time in the country’s history.

Without JFK’s vision and leadership, it’s possible the moon landing may not have occurred in time to beat the Soviets and win the space race — or even occurred at all.

And for that, we owe President Kennedy sincere thanks during this Thanksgiving holiday.

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Please stay tuned for Part 3 of this series (coming soon), which will continue assessing JFK’s goals and accomplishments in space exploration. Following installments will address the civil rights movement.

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