Feeling the sense of urgency to overtake the Soviets in the space race, U.S. President John F. Kennedy made a statement toward a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961, stating that before the decade is out, he plans to launch a man to the Moon and return him safely to the Earth.
In response to the Soviet lead in the space competition, U.S. President John F. Kennedy made a statement to Congress on May 25, 1961, outlining his plan to send a person to the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth within the next decade.