Once you land on the Moon, the communist have nowhere left to go.

History often describes the Space Race as a duel—a continuous tit-for-tat between two superpowers locked in orbital competition.

But in truth, it ended the moment the United States landed a man on the Moon.

Until 1969, the race was symmetrical.

The Soviets drew first blood:

• 1957: Sputnik, the first satellite.

• 1961: Yuri Gagarin, the first human in orbit.

• Firs…