“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others too…” On September 12, 1962 President John F. Kennedy uttered these famous words as he spoke at Rice University.
The summer of 1969 was a time of excitement and patriotism. Americans turned out in record numbers to watch astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin as they left for the moon on July 16, 1969. The Apollo 11 mission had finally taken “flight.”
This weekend marks 50 years since the Apollo 11 mission. Excitement today has once again taken over the country. With movie documentaries available at the library such as Apollo 11, you have the chance to witness history once again. You can access behind the scenes interviews with the astronauts and see firsthand the mission unfold.
In accordance with the Apollo 11 anniversary there is also a display in the library local history room full of articles and photographs. Space fever has taken over the library with the summer reading program, A Universe of Stories! Already signed up? Take a look at the augmented reality apps the library has to offer.
In addition to these the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is offering their own augmented reality app to download on smartphones in the apple store, or access through Google Play. The app is free to anyone and allows you to immerse yourself in the Apollo Mission from July 16-July 20. Each day you can recreate and follow the mission! Their website https://www.jfkmoonshot.org/ offers insightful commentary from Ambassador Caroline Kennedy as she discusses her father’s legacy, and there are exclusive interviews from the JFK Space Fest. In addition you can play games such as completing a series of tasks in order to launch the Saturn V rocket.
Have fun exploring!