In January 1961, a bold, young leader took office and set his sights upward. When President John F. Kennedy took office he pledged to the nation a commitment to develop a new sense of American vitality, as he was well aware of the national pride and international respect that had been lost to the Soviets in space. The Soviets had technologically and politically challenged the United States where it had been most vulnerable–in space. Spurred by this challenge, President Kennedy decided that America’s “New Frontier” was going to be the Moon. It was a decision that was to become one of the major milestones in human achievement.