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Space exploration became real on October 4, 1957.
That was when the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite into orbit around Earth. It was called Sputnik I and was the size of a basketball. This feat made the United States determined to beat the Soviets in the race to explore space.
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a big announcement. The U.S. had set the bold and exciting goal of sending an American to the Moon before the end of the decade. The program was called Project Apollo. It was named after the Roman and Greek god of sunlight. According to legend, Apollo drove a shiny golden chariot across the sky.
