A long time ago, two countries, the USSR and the United States, were having a race. This was not an ordinary race either. It was a race TO SPACE.

The race happened from 1955 to 1975 during what was called the Cold War. During the this time the countries never actually fought.

America and USSR(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), both wanted to be the first people in space. Both countries made special groups to help this happen. America created NASA, and the USSR created the Soviet Space Program.  

They used math, science, and building along with TEAMWORK to help the rockets get to space and come back home. For a while, it was competitive, but no threats were made. But then the friendly competition was gone.

Two days after America said they were going to launch a rocket and satellite into space, the USSR said the same thing, and on October 4, 1957, the USSR successfully launched their Sputnik satellite.

America did not give up though. John F. Kennedy, the president at the time, changed schools by having them focus much more on math and science.