May 25 1997
From The Space Library
Educators, scientists, and politicians gathered to celebrate a new nationwide observance-Space Day-meant to carry on President John F. Kennedy's call to the nation for space exploration. On 25 May 1961, Kennedy had urged the United States to "commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth," sparking NASA's successful development of human space travel. Advocates of Space Day argued that a day of celebrating previous achievements and calling for further advances would inspire future space explorers, particularly children. More than 1,900 schools across the nation participated in Space Day activities.
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