Space Race Timeline

The Space Race was a Cold War competition between the U.S. and the USSR from the late 1950s to early 1970s, aiming to demonstrate technological and ideological superiority. It began with the USSR launching Sputnik 1 in 1957, the first artificial satellite. The U.S. responded with the Mercury and Apollo programs, culminating in Apollo 11's moon landing in 1969. Key milestones include the first man in space (Yuri Gagarin, 1961), America's first orbital flight (John Glenn, 1962), and lunar landings. The race fostered rapid advancements in science and technology but also reflected Cold War tensions.