Final answer:
The space race was a competition between the U.S. and the USSR to achieve supremacy in space exploration during the Cold War. It had significant connections to the ideological and technological rivalry between the two nations, serving as a propaganda tool and a measure of economic and political strength.
Step-by-step explanation:
The space race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, where both countries sought to achieve supremacy in space exploration. This rivalry began with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957, which marked the first human-made object in orbit around the Earth. The United States felt the need to respond and established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958.
Both nations engaged in a series of space missions, each trying to outdo the other. In 1961, the Soviet Union achieved another milestone by sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space. This prompted the U.S. to accelerate its efforts, and in 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed the first humans on the moon.
The space race had significant connections to the Cold War. It was a manifestation of the ideological and technological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each country saw space exploration as a means to demonstrate their scientific and military prowess, with their accomplishments serving as propaganda tools. Furthermore, achieving space milestones was viewed as a reflection of a nation's economic and political strength, further fueling the competition.
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