President Kennedy at Cape Canaveral

President John F. Kennedy, right, gets an explanation of the Saturn V launch system from Dr. Wernher von Braun, center, at Cape Canaveral in November 1963. NASA Deputy Administrator Robert Seamans is to the left of von Braun.

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 12, 1962, Kennedy gave an address at Rice University making the case for why the United States should go to the moon with the Apollo program, an initiative he'd launched the previous year. "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things," said Kennedy, "not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Credit: NASA

NASA Highlights 50th Anniversary of Kennedy 'Moon Speech' and Looks Ahead

Allard Beutel

Headquarters, Washington                

202-358-2191

allard.beutel@nasa.gov

WASHINGTON -- NASA is offering a variety of special features to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's address at Rice University in Houston on Sept. 12, 1962. In that famous speech, Kennedy proclaimed, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade," which set the United States on a course of space exploration that we continue to build on today.

On Wednesday, NASA Television will air in its entirety a high-quality version of the address at 11:15 a.m. EDT, the same time President Kennedy gave the speech 50 years ago.

NASA's website will have a special blog from NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and an online feature that highlights the speech and provides information about NASA's current and future exploration programs.

NASA.gov and NASA TV will show a message about the speech from NASA astronaut Suni Williams on board the International Space Station. Williams will become commander of the orbiting laboratory this weekend.

At 3 p.m., NASA astronauts, scientists and engineers will hold a Google+ Hangout to talk about NASA's rich history of innovation and ingenuity, and discuss NASA's future goals for scientific discovery and human spaceflight. To join the event, visit http://plus.google.com/+NASA.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

For all the special features about the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's "moon speech" and a look ahead at NASA's space exploration in the coming decades, visit http://www.nasa.gov.

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Kennedy Receives Mariner 2 Model

This 1961 photo shows Dr. William H. Pickering, (center) JPL Director, presenting a Mariner spacecraft model to President John F. Kennedy, (right). NASA Administrator James Webb is standing directly behind the Mariner model.

Mariner 2 launched 50 years ago on Aug. 27, 1962.

The Mariner 2 probe flew by Venus in 1962, sending back data on its atmosphere, mass, and weather patterns. It stopped transmitting in 1963 after delivering a wealth of scientific information.

Image Credit: NASA

John Glenn and JFK: An Historic Meeting

John Glenn, standing next to his Friendship 7 capsule in which he made his historic orbital flight, meets with President John F. Kennedy. Mrs. Glenn stands next to her husband. Earlier that day, President Kennedy presented the NASA Distinguished Service Award to Glenn.

Image Credit: NASA