"The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever".

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky quoted in Spaceflight A Smithsonian Guide, New York: Macmillan, 1995, page 41.

"I believe the nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. No single space project in this period will be more exciting, or more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."

John F. Kennedy quoted in The New York Times, May 26, 1961, page 12.

"one of the victories for the human spirit"

President John F. Kennedy’s comments on the Faith-7 flight of Gordan Cooper quoted in Life, May 24, 1963, page 31.

"There is a fascination about space flight which makes you keep wanting to go back for more, to do it just one more time."

Jim Lovell, Apollo 8, writing in Life, January 17, 1969, page 29.

"The most incredible sight of the flight - of my entire life - was my first view of the moon."

Frank Borman, Apollo 8, writing in Life, January 17, 1969, page 27.

"I am grateful that we have somehow caught the world’s imagination in this flight. The sense of exploration, the urge to perform it, must be an important ingredient in the life of many people."

Bill Anders, Apollo 8, writing in Life, January 17, 1969, page 31.

" What we will have obtained when Neil Armstrong steps down upon the moon is a completely new step in the evolution of man. For the first time, life will leave its planetary cradle, and the ultimate destiny of man will no longer be confined to these familiar continents that we have known so long."

Wernher von Braun quoted by Loudon Wainwright in Life, July 25, 1969, page 20.

"That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11, as he stepped onto the Moon

"Houston, we’ve got a problem."

Jack Swigert, Apollo 13, writing in Life, May 1, 1970, page 29
This was the first transmission sent after the electrical system warning light was activated.

"Some people would call the mission of Apollo 13 a failure. I look back on it as a triumph: a triumph of teamwork, initiative and ingenuity, on the ground and in the spacecraft."

Jim Lovell, Apollo 13, writing in Life, May 1, 1970, page 24.

Return To Top Of Page