The Space Race refers to the competitive period during the Cold War, primarily from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, when the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR) vied for supremacy in space exploration and technology. This competition was marked by significant milestones, including the USSR’s launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, in 1957, and the U.S. landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon in 1969. The Space Race encompassed various achievements in space science, including the development of rockets, satellites, and human spaceflight, and reflected broader geopolitical tensions and ideological differences between the two superpowers. The race not only advanced human understanding of space but also inspired technological innovations and scientific discoveries. The Space Race concluded with the eventual détente and cooperation in space exploration, exemplified by joint missions such as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1972.
