JFK on First American to Orbit Earth
On February 20, 1962, Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. became the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. President John F. Kennedy tells the nation that America has reached a new ocean in its race to space.
Related Speeches & Audio (10)
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JFK on First American to Orbit Earth
JFK on First American to Orbit EarthAudio Clip (0:29)
Audio Clip (0:29)
On February 20, 1962, Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. became the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. President John F. Kennedy tells the nation that America has reached a new ocean in its race to space.
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Ford Phones Apollo Astronauts
Ford Phones Apollo AstronautsAudio Clip (8:14)
Audio Clip (8:14)
On July 17, 1975, President Gerald Ford speaks by telephone to the Apollo astronauts following their rendezvous and docking with the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This was the first joint orbital mission between the two superpowers, and it helped pave the way for further cooperation in the exploration of space.
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Reagan on the Challenger Disaster
Reagan on the Challenger DisasterAudio Clip (0:43)
Audio Clip (0:43)
On January 28, 1986, instead of delivering his scheduled State of the Union Address, President Ronald Reagan speaks to the American people about the space shuttle disaster that killed seven astronauts.
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George W. Bush on the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
George W. Bush on the Space Shuttle Columbia DisasterAudio Clip (3:15)
Audio Clip (3:15)
On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia was 16 minutes away from touchdown after completing its 28th mission when a damaged heat protection tile caused the shuttle to incinerate, killing all seven crew members. Later that day, President George W. Bush informs the nation about the terrible disaster.
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Kennedy Has Doubts About Space Race
Kennedy Has Doubts About Space RaceAudio Clip (2:25)
Audio Clip (2:25)
While he has pushed publicly for making a top priority out of landing a man on the moon, President John F. Kennedy expresses doubt to NASA Administrator James Webb in a recorded meeting at the White House on September 18, 1963.
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Nixon Calls Apollo 11 Astronauts
Nixon Calls Apollo 11 AstronautsAudio Clip (1:56)
Audio Clip (1:56)
In what he described as the most historic phone call ever made from the White House, President Richard Nixon speaks to astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin shortly after they became the first humans to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969.
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John F. Kennedy Sets Sights on Moon
John F. Kennedy Sets Sights on MoonAudio Clip (1:18)
Audio Clip (1:18)
In an address at Rice University on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy rallies support for the race to space by telling his fellow Americans that the reason we endeavor to go to the moon is "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."
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Apollo 9 Completes Spacewalk
Apollo 9 Completes SpacewalkAudio Clip (0:46)
Audio Clip (0:46)
After Apollo 9's launch on March 3, 1969, the crew communicates with Mission Control from space. The Apollo 9 mission was a crucial test run for the Apollo 11 moon landing three months later.
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Christmas Eve Broadcast to Earth
Christmas Eve Broadcast to EarthAudio Clip (0:36)
Audio Clip (0:36)
On December 24, 1968, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders entered into lunar orbit aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft. That evening, in a live radio and television transmission, Borman reads a passage from the Book of Genesis.
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Flight of Faith 7 Spacecraft
Flight of Faith 7 SpacecraftAudio Clip (2:02)
Audio Clip (2:02)
Thirty minutes into the Faith 7 spaceflight, a NASA spokesperson recaps the trajectory of the craft after it was launched into orbit just after 8:00 a.m. on May 16, 1963. On board was Gordon Cooper, who became the first American astronaut to spend over 24 hours in space.
Related Videos (10)
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JFK Sets Goal for Man on Moon
JFK Sets Goal for Man on MoonVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
John F. Kennedy's sets the goal of the United States to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
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Ask Steve: The Space Program
Ask Steve: The Space ProgramVideo Clip (1:34)
Video Clip (1:34)
In this video clip from Ask Steve, the reason for Americans interest in the Space Program was explored. It is explained that competition, and the technological wonder of the space race were some of the reasons for the Americans interest.
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Crew of Gemini VIII Trains in Zero Gravity
Crew of Gemini VIII Trains in Zero GravityVideo Clip (2:32)
Video Clip (2:32)
In a History Uncut video, watch as the crew aboard the Gemini VIII have fun experiencing zero gravity in March of 1966.
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John Glenn Orbits the Earth
John Glenn Orbits the EarthVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
Footage of John Glenn's historic orbit around the Earth on Friendship 7.
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Space Shuttle: The Last Mission
Space Shuttle: The Last MissionVideo Clip (4:55)
Video Clip (4:55)
In 2011, NASA sent a space shuttle into space for the last time. Get all the facts on the history of the U.S. space shuttle program.
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Space Race: Cold War Front
Space Race: Cold War FrontVideo Clip (4:21)
Video Clip (4:21)
A brief look at the Space Race, set to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf.
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History Rewind: Chimp In Space
History Rewind: Chimp In SpaceVideo Clip (1:53)
Video Clip (1:53)
Rewind Breaking News The History Channel: This is the story of Ham, the first hominid to be launched into space. Ham the chimp is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in a Project Mercury Redstone rocket.
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Atlantis Docking Mission, 1995
Atlantis Docking Mission, 1995Video Clip (1:47)
Video Clip (1:47)
In this History Uncut video clip, watch actual video footage of the Atlantis spacecraft's docking mission in June 1995. Listen and see the crew as they prepare to land and say goodbye to their spacecraft.
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The First Space Shuttle Flight
The First Space Shuttle FlightVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
On April 12, 1981, NASA launched the first space shuttle into orbit.
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Buzz Aldrin on Approach to Moon
Buzz Aldrin on Approach to MoonVideo Clip (1:00)
Video Clip (1:00)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the landing of the lunar module during the Apollo 11 mission. He talks about how they only had fifteen seconds of fuel left when they actually landed.
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