The space race was a 20th-century rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, aimed at achieving significant milestones in space exploration. It began with the Soviet Unionβs launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and escalated into a series of competitive milestones, including the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, and the iconic Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.
Today, the race for space exploration continues with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, pushing for advancements in space tourism, Mars missions, and more. The competition in space has driven numerous technological innovations and continues to inspire new generations of scientists and explorers.