The Space Race was a fierce competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to establish superiority in space exploration. The two nations wanted to demonstrate their technological prowess and earn the prestige that came with achieving milestones in a field previously thought of as science fiction.
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Despite Apollo 11 starting as a 3,000-ton spacecraft, the only part of it that returned to Earth was the small command module, which splashed down in the Pacific Ocean carrying three astronauts and moon rocks.
Despite the US starting the Space Race behind the Soviet Union, which had put a cosmonaut into space in 1961, the successful landing of Apollo 11 on the moon in 1969 was seen as a defining victory for America.
When Apollo 11 astronauts stepped onto the moon in July 1969, it marked a dramatic win in the US–Soviet space race. The televised landing—broadcast across the globe—showcased American technological supremacy.
The Cold War was a big reason that the US was willing to invest so heavily in the Space Race. But why? And what role did marketing play in getting the US public to go along? This short video sheds light on the role that “soft power” played in helping the US reach the stars—and includes additional resources for teachers who’d like to bring the topic into classrooms.
Sparked by the arms race during the Cold War, the Space Race became symbolic of geopolitical supremacy on Earth. This video traces the development of rocketry from pioneers like Tsiolkovsky and von Braun through World War II and into the 1950s. During this period, both the US and the USSR rushed to build rocket programs, culminating in the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik I in 1957.
The geopolitical rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union was considered “cold" because the two countries never directly engaged in military combat during the time period. This page from the Kennedy Presidential Library outlines the causes and major events of the early Cold War.
The history of animals in space exploration is often overlooked. Before humans first made their way to space in 1961, fruit flies, primates, and canines preceded us. Watch this video for a further appreciation of the contributions and sacrifices made by animals for scientific progress.
Space isn’t just for astronauts anymore. For roughly $250K, a civilian can now ride a rocket to the edge of space—four minutes beyond the Kármán Line—before gliding gently back to Earth. The rocket? It lands itself. The tech? Funded by billionaires. Because this isn’t just a space race. It’s a race to shape the future of orbit, exploration, and who controls the skies above us.
This podcast series explores Apollo 11 through firsthand stories from the engineers, mission controllers, and astronauts who made the moon landing possible, culminating in 13 minutes of NASA archive audio leading up to the landing.
See the planet in all its luminosity with this NightEarth app, an interactive spherical globe showing real satellite imagery of Earth. Toggle between views of real-time clouds, aurora borealis activity, and more.
Weave together the many narratives of world history with our highly curated and expanding selection of diverse, fascinating resources designed to showcase the breadth and richness of Earth's story, from the earliest traces of human civilization to the dramatic developments of contemporary cultures.