Propaganda
"Survival in Space" fact sheet about doctors' research into the stress on astronauts' bodies in space. Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
People were eager for any information on NASA's space programs, which was released to the public through a variety of outlets and media. To encourage the continued support of the general public, the US government released material that would capitalize on the public's excitement about outer space and build anticipation for the Space Race. This climate provided President Kennedy with a positive platform to make public appearances regarding the space program and to promote newsworthy events like aeronautical award ceremonies or NASA technological breakthroughs. Much of the government-produced promotional material came in the form of informational films and posters, distributed both at home and abroad. Since the number of people that had actually been to space was very small, pictures and art depicting space were especially influential.
The greatest public display of the space program’s success was the live television broadcast of John Glenn and Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission. From the comfort of their own homes, America visited space with their newfound heroes as they walked on the Moon. For years, this event was commemorated with stamps, posters, buttons, and artists’ renditions.
