American Ambition On Full Display
It was a great example of American ambition, although others say that it was driven by revenge against the Soviets. This desire to improve the U.S. space program must be viewed in the context of the time. The Cold War between the USSR and the US spread onto the battlefield too. Aldrin served as a fighter pilot during the Korean War! Aside from that, the Space Race was also another front it was fought on.
American Ambition On Full Display
The Soviets Were Leading The Way
By the time the United States announced its plan to go to the moon, the USSR had already been leading the space exploration race. In 1957, the Soviets had already launched Sputnik, which is the first orbiting satellite in history. In 1961, it also sent Yuri Gagarin into space as the first man to ever do so. The U.S. needed to do some catching up, which is one of the reasons it set about to land on the moon.
The Soviets Were Leading The Way
