Read the excerpts from Team Moon and the NASA article. Kennedy's decision was triggered by an intense "space race" with the old Soviet Union. The Soviets were first in space (with Sputnik); first too with a man in space. July 1969. It's a little over eight years since the flights of Gagarin and Shepard, followed quickly by President Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon before the decade is out. A reader can best combine the information in the excerpts to understand that President Kennedy's desire to put a man on the moon was inspired by a "space race" with the Soviet Union. Understand that President Kennedy was unwilling to spend the vast amounts of time and resources needed for space travel. Understand that President Kennedy was concerned about the Soviet Union's greater achievements in space travel. Understand that President Kennedy wanted the United States to put a man on the moon before the year 1970.