The Soviet Union gave space the first artificial satellite in history, Sputnik. In recent years the standard of living of citizens began to increase considerably and caused a collective euphoria in the country, which was to be rounded off with the first rocket sent two years later to the Moon and the Gagarinin flight of 1961. It was believed that this country could overcome the capitalist development of the United States, ahead of the space competition being waged in the context of the Cold War.