The Space Race

The Space Race was a contest between two countries. The United States and the Soviet Union both wanted to be first in space. It started in 1957 and lasted until 1975. Both countries built rockets and sent people into space. It led to many amazing discoveries.

First in Space

The Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957. Then they sent the first person into space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. This surprised America and made them work harder. They started a big program to catch up.

An astronaut stands on the moon wearing a shiny space suit.
An astronaut stands on the moon wearing a shiny space suit. (Neil A. Armstrong / Wikimedia Commons)

Reaching the Moon

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy said America would land on the moon. NASA worked for years to make it happen. In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. This was a huge win for the United States.

Fun Facts

  • The first living thing in space was a dog named Laika from the Soviet Union.
  • Sputnik means 'traveler' in Russian and was about the size of a beach ball.
  • NASA was created in 1958 to help America win the Space Race.

Did You Know?

Things invented for the Space Race include memory foam, freeze-dried food, and scratch-resistant lenses.