It was the best of times and the worst of times. Spirits soared as Mankind anticipated the great achievement of landing on the Moon. Deep sorrow persisted over war, protests and tragic losses of great leaders. Summer, 1969.

09:37  16.07.69 Saturn V rocket powers Apollo 11's liftoff from Kennedy Space Center.

Vision from an American President who saw his nation as a leader had brought America to its major turning point in history. The Apollo 11 mission represented the highest motives and capabilities of the human mind.

09:37  16.07.69 At 1.5 feet/second (.5 m/s) Apollo 11 eases by tower- mounted camera 363 feet above the ground.

Americans seized the challenge in 1961 to place a man on the Moon in less than ten years. Top shows on television like, Wagon Train and Bonanza were westerns that reflect the growing national yearning for establishing the country as a world leader

16.07.69 Apollo's view after the craft has started its translunar injection.

The goal of claiming the heavens became a race that dared Americans and the world to raise their expectations.  They had to cooperate with people of diverse cultures from the full spectrum of science, the military, engineering, technology and industry.

16.07.69 Africa and Eastern Europe, from Apollo, 98,000 miles away.