John F. Kennedy laid out the most ambitious Space Race goal in 1961 - for NASA to send the first humans to the surface of the moon and return them safely.
Having essentially won the Space Race with the Soviet Union, and in the midst of economic turmoil, NASA's priorities are restructured. Apollo 17 marks the end of manned missions to the moon, and the transition towards more Earth-focused missions.
NASA's space shuttle program allows for easier access to orbit with reusable craft, paving the way for more advanced satellites and the first major space stations.
