How did the united states feel about the soviet union's contributions to the space race? they were happy that the soviet union was participating in space exploration and worked to match the soviet union's impressive accomplishments. they were surprised that the soviet union was capable of developing advanced space technology and worked to exceed the soviet union's efforts. they were angry that the soviet union's space program had surpassed the goals of the u. s. and decided to decrease funding for the nasa program. they were with the soviet union's interest in the space program and cooperated with them in a joint effort to place the first man on the moon.