Space Race

The Space Race - After World War II drew to a close in the mid-20th century, a new conflict began. Known as the Cold War, this battle pitted the world’s two great powers–the democratic, capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union–against each other. Beginning in the late 1950s, space would become another dramatic arena for this competition, as each side sought to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower and–by extension–its political-economic system.

Racing to Space - During the 1950s and '60s, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for primacy in a global struggle for world influence. This struggle, called the Cold War, motivated the first explorations of space by both countries.

Space Race (Cold War Museum) - The superpower competition in space exploration technology that paralleled the Cold War competition in arms developments. Coming on the heels of the Soviet Union’s hydrogen bomb tests, Sputnik shocked and stunned the American public.

The Space Race to the Moon Landing - Some say landing on the Moon is as one of humanity's greatest achievements. Learn about the history of the Moon landing and some of the challenges faced by scientists. See actual footage of the astronauts on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.