9:42 p.m. An immense Soviet Proton rocket lifts off from Baikonur. The capsule is loaded with bacteria, plants, flies, worms, and turtles. It will circumnavigate the Moon in the next two days. For the first time. The Soviets are still fully in the race to reach the Moon. It seems possible that they will be able to fit a cosmonaut inside the capsule and repeat the feat within a few months. This time, the Americans will arrive first, at Christmas 1968, with Apollo 8.
