Battle for the Moon: 1957-1969, from Sputnik to Apollo

July 20, 1969. Nearly six hundred million people have their eyes glued to their televisions: Neil Armstrong is just about to make one of mankind’s oldest dreams come true. After more than twenty years of intense struggle between the Americans and the Soviets, the biggest adventure for humanity in the 20^th century has just been achieved.

As a climax of the Cold War, the conquest of the moon was a true saga, passionate, epic and filled with twists and turns. It wasn’t just a scientific competition between East and West; It was also a fabulous adventure combining political history, technological exploits, acts of bravery and personal dramas.

To commemorate the first step on the moon 50 years ago, this full archive documentary revisits the space race from the launch of the first Soviet Sputnik in 1957 to the American triumph of the Apollo 11 in 1969.