American Ambition On Full Display
It was a great illustration of American ambition, despite some claims that it was driven by revenge against the Soviets. This goal of improving the US space program must be viewed in the context of history. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union spilled over into the battlefield. Aldrin was a fighter pilot during the Korean War! In addition, there had the Space Race to contend with.
American Ambition On Full Display
The Soviets Were Leading The Way
By the time the US proclaimed its goal to reach the moon, the USSR had already outpaced the US in space exploration. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first orbiting satellite, in 1957. In 1961, it also launched Yuri Gagarin into space, making him the first man to do so. To catch up with the rest of the world, the United States set out to land on the moon.
The Soviets Were Leading The Way
