We Choose to Go to the Moon (Speech Version)

Speech by John F. Kennedy
Sept 12, 1962
Rice Stadium, Houston Texas

But why, some say, the moon?
Why choose this as our goal?
And they may well ask
Why climb the highest mountain?
Why, 35 years ago
Fly the Atlantic?
Why does Rice play Texas?
Not because they are easy
But because they are hard
Because that goal
Will serve to organize and measure
The best of our energies and skills
Because that challenge
Is one that we are willing to accept
One we are unwilling to postpone
And one which we intend to win

We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
In this decade and do the other things

240,000 miles away
From the control station in Houston
A giant rocket more than 300 feet tall
The length of this football field
Made of new metal alloys
Some of which have not yet been invented
Capable of standing heat and stresses
Several times more
Than have ever been experienced
Fitted together with a precision
Better than the finest watch
Carrying all the equipment needed
For propulsion
Guidance
Control
Communications
Food and survival

We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
In this decade and do the other things

On an untried mission
To an unknown celestial body
And then return it safely to earth
Re-entering the atmosphere
At speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour
Causing heat about half that
Of the temperature of the sun
Almost as hot as it is here today
And do all this
And do it right
And do it first before this decade is out
Then we must be bold

We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
We choose to go to the moon
In this decade and do the other things