A HISTORY OF SPACE
Goddard of the USA developed a liquid fuel rocket and a gyroscopic guidance. His ideas were picked up by Von Braun in Germany. His rockets were one of Hitler’s wonder weapons. They were ready by late in WW2 and did some damage before being stopped.
The USA captured the German rocket scientists and the Russias the rockets. The USA was stunned by Russians first orbiting the earth and sending a man into space.
US efforts were not successful early on. Then NASA was formed. President Kennedy made a pledge to land of the moon before 1970. He was killed but massive effort was directed toward the space race with the Russians.
We had Von Braun, who was a vissionary. The skills to maneuver in space were developed. The equipment was primative but the risk was accepted. There were deaths, but the USA succeeded in landing of the moon by July 1969.
Each launch was dangerous. The USA specialized in robotic missions to Mars.