>> karen and chris, thanks so much for being with us today. president john f. kennedy left a lasting legacy in so many ways, but in one way in particular, space exploration. in 1961 he made the ambitious promise we would land on the moon by the end of the decade. >> i believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. >> that dream was realized in 1969. it seems fitting this week to take note of another feat for the space program championed by kennedy today, goal for launched unmanned nasa spacecraft maven blasted off from cape canaveral heading towards mars. its mission is to be the first study of the martian upper atmosphere to learn about what changed the planet's once earth-like climate.