What are the motifs in The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe?

Competition is a recurring idea in the story. Although teamwork plays a part in the space program, competition plays a much bigger role. World War II has left the West and Russia competing for territory, and the Cold War is intensifying that competition to a point just short of nuclear war. When Russia orbits first a satellite, then a dog, then actual men, America begins to panic. When it becomes apparent that the U.S. is not going to catch up with the Russian orbital program, President Kennedy makes a competitive leap and declares that the U.S. will put a man on the moon in the next decade. And when John Glenn successfully completes his flight, Congress is willing to write a blank check to guarantee a U.S. victory in this competition. Wolfe uses the example of the ancient single combat warrior to illustrate the role the astronauts are filling