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It probably started in the 1940s with the defection to the West of ex-Nazi scientist Werner Von Braun. He denounced his country because of Nazi atrocities, and defected to the USA. Braun was the genius brains behind the German V2 rocket system for WW2 missile launch and his defection greatly annoyed the Communist Soviets as they wished to have the same technology as their now enemy, the Capitalist West. This was the beginning of not only the space race but also the arms race where each side stockpiled nuclear weapons - enough to wipe each other off the face of the world several times over. The space race thus started from a military initiative, as, whoever conquered space would also conquer surveillance from space, espionage and counter espionage. The race began in earnest in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite Sputnik 1, the Americans only managing their first satellite a little later. And so it continued: the Soviets launched the first human in space, the Americans the first human in orbit. The Soviets staged the first space-walk, and the US a spacewalk that was longer. The Soviets only really conceded their defeat in the race in 1969 when the Americans were first to land on the moon. Thereafter the Soviets concentrated on unmanned probes and the development of a semi-permanent space station in Mir. Although ridiculed by the West for its arcane technology, the Mir was incredibly reliable, and lasted in space several times over its original planned lifetime, and pushed the boundaries of the understanding of space, and especially how space travel affects humans in the long term, more than any other space initiative.

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What started the space race?

the space race started when the soviet union union launched Sputnik into space.


What country started the space race?

The space race was started by the USSR on October 4, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1.


Why was the space race started?

because space was and is the next frontier


The lanching of what started the space race?

Sputnik


Who started the space race?

soviet union


What did Sputnik said to have started?

The 'space race'


Why was space race important?

The space race is important because it shows the competitive nature between humans. it is a race between Russia and america to reach (get a man on) the moon. the race was stared when russia launched a satellite called sputnik in 1957, the americans thought this could destroy them (by launching missiles from space) and the race for space started.


How did Russians start space race?

The Russians started the Space Race by launching Sputnik the first satellite, which then provoked fear in the Americans to begin development of their own satellites.


When did the space shuttle program become operational?

The space shuttle program began in 1969. It was started in the race that contributed to the rocket race to the moon and a tactic to claim superiority to the USSR.


What was launched by the Russians that started the space race?

Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite.


What is the name of the president that started the space race?

It was Nikita Khrushchev, though his official title was Premier, not President.


What launch started the space race?

Basically the Successful Launch of Sputnik I by then USSR started the Space race as US Space programme till then was not integrated and successful launch of SputnikI triggred 1)formation of NASA 2)passing of Space act by US congress 3)allocation of funds for the space projects.