There was speculation within NASA and the press that they might be preparing to launch cosmonauts on a similar circumlunar mission before the end of 1968.
ðɛɹwˌʌz spˌɛkjʊlˈeɪʃən wɪðˌɪn nˈæsɐ ænd ðə pɹˈɛs ðæt ðeɪ mˌaɪt biː pɹɪpˈɛɹɪŋ tə lˈɑːntʃ kˈɑːzmənˌɔːts ˌɔn ɐ sˈɪmɪlɚ sˌɜːkəmlˈuːnɚ mˈɪʃən bᵻfˌoːɹ ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt.