The Space Race: 1957 - 1975

The Space Race A competition between the United States and USSR to explore outer space: 1) with artificial satellites 2) to send humans into space 3) land people on the moon It was set off by the launch of the Soviet Sputnik I on 4 October 1957—the first manned vehicle in outer space.

USSR: Sputnik On 4 October 1957, the USSR successfully launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. It helped to determine the density of the upper atmosphere. Sputnik caused fear and stirred political debate in the United States and the formation of NASA The satellite questioned US technological superiority—causing fear and political debate about the formation of NASA.

USA: Satellite 1958 Alpha – Explorer I The US answer to the Soviet Sputnik. Launched on January 31, 1958 Explorer I flight data led to the discovery by James Van Allen of the Van Allen radiation belt

USSR: Animals in Space 1957: Laika was the first animal that traveled into space in the USSR's Sputnik 2. She died of stress and overheating soon after reaching space. 1960: Russian space dogs Belka and Strelka orbited Earth and successfully returned. USA imported chimpanzees from Africa and sent at least two into space before launching its first human orbiter. 1968”: Soviet-launched turtles on Zond 5 becoming the first animals to orbit the moon.

USSR: First Man in Space The Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, became the first human in space when he entered orbit in Russia's Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961, a day now celebrated as a holiday in Russia and in many other countries.

USA: First American in Space May 1961: Alan Shepard first entered sub-orbital space for the 23 days after Gagarin. February 20, 1962: John Glenn became the first American to successfully orbit Earth, completing three orbits.

USA: First Man on Moon July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that took Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon. Armstrong and Aldrin landed the lunar aircraft on the moon while Collins piloted the command module in space. The event was watched by over 500 million people. Apollo missions: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/index.html

USSR: Missions to Other Planets 1960: First planetary probes sent to both Venus and Mars. 1971: Venera 7 became the first craft to land on Venus. Venera 9 transmitted the first pictures from the surface of another planet. 1971: Mars 3 was the first spacecraft to land on Mars, but it did not return pictures.

US: Missions to Other Planets December 1962: Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to successfully fly by Venus. 1965: Mariner 4 became the first probe to Mars, and it transmitted completely unexpected images. 1974: Mariner 10 was the first and the only spacecraft to fly by Mercury. 1973: Pioneer 10 had a successful flight by Jupiter. 1979: Pioneer 11 by Saturn.

The “End" of the Space Race The meeting of the US Apollo and USSR Soyuz spacecraft on July 17, 1975 traditionally marks the end of the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet. The Soviets won the race by being the first one to sent a man into space; however, their U.S. rivals were the ones to set their feet on the moon.