After the launch of Sputnik in 1957, both sides are determined to send the first man into space. In contrast to the fanfare at NASA as the first American astronauts meet the press, recruitment of Soviet cosmonauts begins in such secrecy that even those selected have no idea what their mission is or who is behind it.

Originally released by BBC Worldwide Learning, 2005. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 21, 2019.