The Apollo space missions date back to the "space race" which took place during the Cold War era. Sparked by the threat of Sputnik 1, a satellite sent into orbit in 1957 by the Soviet Union, the United States felt vulnerable, as they believed the Soviets were developing a method to launch ballistic missiles from space. While the United States felt obligated to catch up to the Soviets in the interest of national security, they also took …showed first 75 words of 2181 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2181 total…and devices that affected the world on a global scale for many years to come. The Apollo program was the height of the United States in the space race because it marked the greatest technological achievement of landing a man on the moon. But its greatest value is measured in the eventual advancements towards peace between the two nations, and the technological discoveries made during that time which profoundly benefited mankind for years to come.