In the 1950s Cold War tensions, nuclear escalation and the development of missile technology leave the United States horrified that the Soviet Union has achieved superiority in rocketry.

1. To Orbit

Factual

Documentary

In the 1950s America was shocked when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. Again, in 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth and the United States felt its technological advantage was slipping.

We Choose To Go To The Moon

Series 1

In the 1950s, America was shocked when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik...

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As the early 1960s progress the Soviet Union continues to makes impressive firsts: the first man in orbit, the first woman to orbit and the first spacewalk

2. Rendezvous

An inquiry into the loss of the three astronauts leads to a far-reaching redesign of the Apollo programme. The US loses more than a year in its race to the moon and many believe that the late president's deadline will not be met.