American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race

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On the fiftieth anniversary of the lunar landing, acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley revisits the American space program and President John F. Kennedy's challenge to land a man on the moon by the decade's end. This narrative delves into the 1960s, highlighting the political, cultural, and scientific factors that led to the establishment of NASA and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, ultimately securing U.S. victory in the space race against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Utilizing new primary sources and recent scholarship, Brinkley vividly recounts this remarkable history. Central to the narrative is Kennedy, whose commitment to the space program was a key element of his New Frontier agenda. He actively engaged in the political struggles necessary to realize his vision. The book features a range of iconic and sometimes controversial figures, including rocketeer Wernher von Braun, astronaut John Glenn, and space advocate Lyndon Johnson. This chronicle captures a thrilling, hopeful, and turbulent era in American history, celebrating scientific ingenuity, engineering excellence, human curiosity, and the indomitable American spirit.