Armstrong's Famous Words: "One Small Step for a Man, One Big Step for Mankind"
Armstrong said, "One small step for a man, one big step for mankind," at a time when people had lofty aspirations, pondered profound visions, and achieved some of the dreams that many saw as impossibilities, like setting foot on the moon. In many respects, the moon landing did in fact warrant the use of the words. First, the moon landing was viewed as a significant move forward for humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. (Kennedy 1). As a result, any man who took such a move would unquestionably be regarded as significant because the motivation was all there. This was a generation that would want to be part of the history and associated with serious achievements especially in regards to space technology and exploration just as the earlier groups that ensured industrial revolution, modern invention and investments on nuclear power (Kennedy 1).
Competition in Space Exploration
When the Soviet launched a mission to have the first man orbit the earth, it was turning out to be an interesting affair as competition intensified among the two countries, Russia and United States. The US would not want to be left out hence they set on a mission to have a man on space after Russia had launched the first artificial satellite in space. This kind of exploration was a big step for the Russian people as it made them be counted among the great. It was a unifying factor (Soviet Propaganda poster used between 1958 & 1963, the height of the Soviet space program).
The Significance of the Moon Landing
The great step indeed was a great step for the citizens of United States and this would then be translated to be a great step to humanity. The U.S had worked had to ensure that they landed on the moon way ahead of the Russians. This was even made one of the policies and to make it serious, it was ranked as one of the top priorities for the country. This then means that achieving it would not be just a mean feat. To ensure that it remains a big step, President Kennedy insisted that the time element was much important. This meant that the U.S would only be considered to have made a big step if it was the first to make it, otherwise it would not really matter (Launius 163).
The Warranted Words
By Armstrong getting to the moon and remarking the words, it was warranted. The space exploration was very important for U.S in its geopolitics even though it attracted so much resistance. In fact, after the resistance that the program attracted but ultimately achieving its goal, Armstrong was justified to state the words. Most of the people in the US had opposed the Project Apollo hence attracting the attention of media. The media would release a poll that many people did not embrace the lunar mission. Throughout the 1960s, most of the Americans did not see the project as cost conscious given the big monetary allocation for the project (Madrigal 1). People thought that the government was spending too much on space and indication that there was a lack of commitment to the spaceflight agenda. Therefore, the achievement and justification of the money spending would definitely be considered as a great step for a man which would be a big step for the entire humanity. The man, in this case, would be U.S but it would be considered that she achieved it on behalf of the entire world. From the above arguments, it emerged that the words by Armstrong were warranted.
Works Cited
Kennedy, John F. "John F. Kennedy Moon Speech-Rice Stadium." NASA Software Robotics and Simulation Division (1962).
Launius, Roger. Public Opinion polls and perceptions on US human space flight. Space Policy, 19 (2003) 163–175. (Tape Recording of meeting between President John F. Kennedy and
NASA Administrator Webb).
Madrigal, Alexis. Moondoggle: The Forgotten Opposition to the Apollo Program. The Atlantic. (9.2012)
Soviet Propaganda poster used between 1958 & 1963, the height of the Soviet space program
