Apollo 13, NASA's finest hour, comes in April 1970. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-71-houston-we-ve-had-a-problem

In November 1969, NASA launches Apollo 12--a mission that nearly ended right after launch until someone in Mission Control gave the instruction, "SCE to auxiliary." Photo: spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-70-sce-to-aux

In response to Apollo 11, the Soviet Union launches 3 manned spacecraft into orbit. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-69-troika

One small step for a man! Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-68-apollo-11-pt-2

Prior to Apollo 11, NASA had to select the crew, build a lunar lander simulator, training astronauts and a mission control team, select a landing site, plan surface mission activities, develop quarantine procedures, and build a new laboratory to receive lunar samples. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-67-apollo-11-part-1

The USSR spends the first six months of 1969 finding a way to blunt the impact of the impending American moon landing. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/ep-66-grasping-at-straws

In March 1969, NASA finishes flight testing the Apollo command and lunar modules in anticipation of a moon landing. Photo: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-64-apollo-9

After Apollo 8, the Soviet Union struggles to find a new objective for its space program besides a manned landing on the moon in anticipation that he United States will land astronauts there first. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-63-soviet-coverup

On December 21, 1968, NASA launches the first manned mission to the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-62-apollo-8