Composition

John F. Kennedy’s Moon Speech focuses on two main issues: the development of space science and technology, and the importance of the US becoming a leader in the space race. 

Part of Kennedy’s speech deals with the development of space science and technology. Kennedy uses a metaphor to compress 50,000 years of the recorded history of mankind in 50 years (ll. 27-45). His purpose is to show the recent rapid evolution of science and technology and to suggest that the world will evolve whether or not the US will be part of this development. 

Moreover, Kennedy presents the technology that has been developed for the purpose of space exploration:

We have seen the site where five F-1 rocket engines, each one as powerful as all eight engines of the Saturn combined, will be clustered together t...