No achievement defines the second half of this century more than America's historic moon landing on July 21st 1969 when Neil Armstrong uttered the immortal words 'One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'. Here for the first time is a full account of the space race from the end of the Second World Ware to that epochal moment. In 1963, a young reporter named Jim Schefter was given a dream job- to cover America's race to the moon. Since the astronauts were under contract to Life, Schefter's employer, he was given unparalleled access to the lives of all the players at NASA. For P. R. reasons he could only report a fraction of what he saw then. Now, at last, he can tell it all. This true, behind-the-scenes tale is more thrilling entertaining, and ultimately, more ennobling than the 'official' version which has been gospel for thirty years now. Trusted by the astronauts and mission controllers who wanted the real story passed onto history, Schefter was given unique access to NASA archives and the personal papers of many of the participants, both Russian and American. He tells of the vicious battles between the German (often ex-nazi) rocket pioneers and the younger Anerican