I'd say human civilization peaked when the Yankees beat the Soviets to the Moon.
Srsly, had the Commies got there first, then the Yankees would've HAD to go to Mars, _right f'in NOW_. And we'd've had more stuff going on in space, not to mention more resulting tech down here.
(Also, with the Yanks given more of a run for their money, maybe they'd been a bit more mellow. But that's a long shot. Not to mention trollbait.)