The Space Race
The Cold-War contest between the Soviet Union and the United States that carried the first humans into orbit and on to the Moon, culminating in the Apollo landings and the détente of Apollo–Soyuz.
In brief
The US–Soviet contest to reach orbit and the Moon.
Events of this era
Yuri Gagarin was the first person to travel into space and orbit the Earth, aboard Vostok 1.
- 12 April 1961Gagarin Becomes the First Human in Space
Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space and the first to orbit the planet.
Alan Shepard flies a 15-minute suborbital hop aboard Freedom 7, becoming the first American in space three weeks after Gagarin.
- 20 February 1962Glenn Becomes the First American to Orbit the Earth
John Glenn circles the Earth three times aboard Friendship 7, the first American to orbit the planet.
Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to fly in space, aboard Vostok 6.
- 16 June 1963Tereshkova Becomes the First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova spends nearly three days in orbit aboard Vostok 6, the first woman to fly in space.
- 1965First Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov made the first extravehicular activity, floating outside his Voskhod 2 capsule.
- 18 March 1965Leonov Makes the First Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov leaves his Voskhod 2 capsule for about twelve minutes, the first human to walk in space.
- 3 February 1966Luna 9 Makes the First Soft Landing on the Moon
The Soviet Luna 9 makes the first soft landing on the Moon and returns the first pictures from its surface.
- 24 December 1968Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon
The crew of Apollo 8 become the first humans to leave Earth orbit and circle the Moon, returning the famous Earthrise photograph.
- 20 July 1969Apollo 11 Lands the First Humans on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon while Michael Collins orbits above — the first humans to set foot on another world.
Apollo 11 landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, the first humans to walk on another world.
- April 1970Apollo 13: A Successful Failure
An oxygen tank explodes on the way to the Moon; the crew and mission control improvise a safe return, turning a near-disaster into a triumph of ingenuity.
Venera 7 returned data from the surface of Venus, the first successful landing on another planet.
- 15 December 1970Venera 7 Lands on Venus
The Soviet Venera 7 transmits from the surface of Venus, the first successful landing on another planet.
Salyut 1 was the first space station, the beginning of humans living and working in orbit.
- 19 April 1971Salyut 1, the First Space Station
The Soviet Union launches Salyut 1, the world's first space station, beginning the long human effort to live and work in orbit.
- December 1972Apollo 17, the Last Crewed Moon Landing
The final Apollo landing; Eugene Cernan is, to date, the last person to walk on the Moon, and geologist Harrison Schmitt the only scientist to do so.
- 14 May 1973Skylab, America's First Space Station
The United States launches Skylab, its first space station, where crews study the Sun and the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body.
Knowledge connections
- ContainsGagarin Becomes the First Human in Space
- ContainsShepard Becomes the First American in Space
- ContainsGlenn Becomes the First American to Orbit the Earth
- ContainsTereshkova Becomes the First Woman in Space
- ContainsLeonov Makes the First Spacewalk
- ContainsLuna 9 Makes the First Soft Landing on the Moon
- ContainsApollo 8 Orbits the Moon
- ContainsApollo 11 Lands the First Humans on the Moon
- ContainsApollo 13: A Successful Failure
- ContainsVenera 7 Lands on Venus
- ContainsSalyut 1, the First Space Station
- ContainsApollo 17, the Last Crewed Moon Landing
- ContainsSkylab, America's First Space Station
- ContainsFirst Human in Space
- ContainsFirst Woman in Space
- ContainsFirst Spacewalk
- ContainsFirst Humans on the Moon
- ContainsFirst Space Station
- ContainsFirst Landing on Another Planet
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.