when the space race began, the united states realized that

they were lagging behind the soviet union in terms of space exploration. The Soviet Union had achieved the first artificial satellite, the first human in space, and the first spacecraft to reach the Moon. In response, the United States initiated the Mercury and Gemini programs to develop the capabilities for astronaut travel in space, as well as the Apollo mission which ultimately resulted in a successful moon landing.

it had a chance to prove its technological superiority over the soviet union. The two countries leaders, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev, were in a heated competition over who could get to space first. Kennedy's administration proclaimed that they would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, while the Soviets focused on unmanned exploration. Ultimately, the United States won the race after astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon in 1969. This marked the first time a human had walked on the lunar surface and marked a major victory for American science and engineering.