The Final Leg of the Space Race

In the late 1960s CIA analysts and photo interpreters had been monitoring Soviet rocket facilities. The N1 was a heavy lift launch vehicle designed to deliver large payloads far beyond low earth orbit Meaning in theory it could be used to send Soviet cosmonauts to the moon. When Richard Nixon took office US officials were debating whether the Soviets could feasibly beat the US to the moon Some believe the Soviets didn't stand a chance others had their doubts. One thing was clear the race was still on but the home stretch was in sight. And in the final leg the Soviets and the Americans were neck and neck. This is episode four of our series on the space race.