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In late March, 1958, President Eisenhower publicly announced the United States’ intention to launch a spacecraft to the Moon. He assured the nation that this was not science fiction. It was an achievable goal presented by leading scientists. The announcement came less than 2 months after the first US satellite had reached orbit. The President was committing the nation to a space race to the moon with the Soviets. If all went well the country would have a spacecraft in orbit around the moon before the summer was over.
![Pioneer_I_on_the_Launch_Pad_-_GPN-2002-000204](https://i0.wp.com/www.spacerockethistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pioneer_I_on_the_Launch_Pad_-_GPN-2002-000204.jpg?resize=223%2C300&ssl=1)
Pioneer 1 on the Launch Pad
![Pioneer Satellite Replica](https://i0.wp.com/www.spacerockethistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pioneer-Satellite-Replica.jpg?resize=300%2C295&ssl=1)
Pioneers 0-2 Satellite Replica
![753px-Pioneer_3](https://i0.wp.com/www.spacerockethistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/753px-Pioneer_3.jpg?resize=300%2C239&ssl=1)
Pioneer 3