The notion shows that America "won" the Space Race at the end of the 1960s overlooks just how competitive the Space Race actually was in launching people into orbit, as well as the major contributions the Space Race influenced in leading to today's International Space Station and continued space exploration.

This is a story about human endeavor and triumph against the hazards of space. Astronauts learned not only how to control and monitor flights but how to deal with fatigue, stress, and equipment malfunction. And, unlike their Russian counterparts, the men and women of Project Mercury did all these things in the full glare of the intense press and media interest. This meant that their achievements were lauded, but it also meant that their mistakes and setbacks were endlessly discussed and criticized.