Open Access
American Research Journal of History and Culture
ISSN (Online): 2379-2914
DOI: 10.46568/arjhc
A Path to Space: From Tsiolkovsky to Armstrong
Abstract
The United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and the United States (US) led the Space Race during the 20th century at the
height of the Cold War. These adversaries raced to be the first to achieve spaceflight capabilities. The concept of space
travel would provide an unprecedented experience and political might. Due to events in history at that time, military
technologies aided advancements. The innovation resulted in creative ways to address fundamental questions, yet more
importantly, would prove one nation dominate. Many extraordinary people pioneered this venture, including physicist
and engineer Robert Goddard from the United States and Hermann Oberth, an Austro-Hungarian-born German physicist
and engineer. In 1962, the United States achieved the first interplanetary flyby when Mariner 2 sped past Venus. Soon
after, the Soviets sent the first woman into space, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963. Additionally, other nations launched
their rockets and satellites, including Canada in 1962, France in 1965, and Japan and China in 1970. The Russians led the
race from Sputnik to the first Moon landing on July 16, 1969, when US astronauts Neil Armstrong and Erwin “Buzz” Aldrin
touched down on the Moon’s surface. Each nation made incredible advancements. Hard work and great focus brought
the dreams of space travel to reality.
