did Soviets plan to beat Apollo 11 to the moon at the last minute

did Soviets plan to beat Apollo 11 to the moon at the last minute Yes, the USSR launched Luna 15, a fiveton unmanned Lunar probe on July 13, 1969, three days before Apollo 11 took off on its journey into immortality. Luna, the Russian mystery ship, was tracked all along its way to the moon by the 250foot diameter radio telescope antenna at Jodrell Bank near Manchester, England. Under the direction of astronomer Bernard Lovell, Jodrell Bank followed Luna as it entered lunar orbit on July 19. He continued his vigil until Luna 15 disappeared, evidently having crashed into the moon on July 21, 1969 (presumably while attempting to make a soft landing. )