Is it really hard to guess that I was talking about the cold war and the aptly-named space race (which is directly related to said cold war)?

I can't comprehend how anything else could come to mind.

Yes, as both incidents are part of the political climate of the time, and are a part of history. They are not the proudest moments, but it is doubtful if, without the spectre of Communism or the USSR, the US would have tried to land on the moon.