A History Of The Space Race

Follow A History Of The Space Race
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Detailed history of the Space Race, from the International Geophysical Year and the launch of Sputnik to the Apollo Program and the moon landing. Visit the website at www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com Credit for background theme music to: Superepic by Alex

Albert Lai


    • Apr 1, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 82 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from A History Of The Space Race with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from A History Of The Space Race

    Epilogue: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 34:59


    The first joint manned docking mission in 1975 lays the groundwork for the International Space Station. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/epilogue-the-apollo-soyuz-test-project

    Episode 80: A Test of the System

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2023 49:06


    Opinions on the lessons of the Space Race.

    Episode 79: N1-L3 Cancelled

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2023 60:48


    The Space Race comes to an end when the Soviet Union cancels its moon landing program in 1974. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-79-n1-l3-cancelled

    Episode 78: Space Station Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2023 36:58


    In 1973, the Soviet Union and the United States race to launch the first operating space station. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-78-space-station-race

    Episode 77: Apollo 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2023 21:12


    The last moon landing mission occurs in December 1972. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-77-apollo-17

    photos apollo 17
    Episode 76: Apollo 16

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2023 24:02


    With the penultimate moon landing mission, NASA focuses on scientific exploration. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-76-apollo-16

    nasa photos apollo 16
    Episode 75: Salyut 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2023 35:56


    The USSR launches the first space station, but tragedy quickly follows. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-75-salyut-1

    Episode 74: Apollo 15

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2023 27:57


    Apollo Program matures with a lunar rover on the moon and longer stays. Hear more: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-74-apollo-15

    apollo program apollo 15
    Episode 73: Apollo 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2023 35:10


    Golfing on the moon! Apollo 14 takes off in January 1971. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-73-apollo-14

    Episode 72: Moonset

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2023 30:49


    By 1970, both the Soviet Union and the United States are turning away from the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-72-moonset

    Episode 71: Houston, We've Had a Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2023 92:55


    Apollo 13, NASA's finest hour, comes in April 1970. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-71-houston-we-ve-had-a-problem

    Episode 70: SCE to AUX

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2023 47:28


    In November 1969, NASA launches Apollo 12--a mission that nearly ended right after launch until someone in Mission Control gave the instruction, "SCE to auxiliary." Photo: spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-70-sce-to-aux

    Episode 69: Troika

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2023 24:28


    In response to Apollo 11, the Soviet Union launches 3 manned spacecraft into orbit. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-69-troika

    Episode 68: Apollo 11, Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2022 76:15


    One small step for a man! Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-68-apollo-11-pt-2

    Episode 67: Apollo 11, Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2022 64:29


    Prior to Apollo 11, NASA had to select the crew, build a lunar lander simulator, training astronauts and a mission control team, select a landing site, plan surface mission activities, develop quarantine procedures, and build a new laboratory to receive lunar samples. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-67-apollo-11-part-1

    Episode 66: Grasping at Straws

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2022 32:41


    The USSR spends the first six months of 1969 finding a way to blunt the impact of the impending American moon landing. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/ep-66-grasping-at-straws

    Episode 65: Apollo 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2022 31:08


    In May 1969, NASA performs a dress rehearsal to land on the moon.

    Episode 64: Apollo 9

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 25:43


    In March 1969, NASA finishes flight testing the Apollo command and lunar modules in anticipation of a moon landing. Photo: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-64-apollo-9

    Episode 63: Soviet Cover Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2022 36:14


    After Apollo 8, the Soviet Union struggles to find a new objective for its space program besides a manned landing on the moon in anticipation that he United States will land astronauts there first. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-63-soviet-coverup

    Episode 62: Apollo 8

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2022 53:52


    On December 21, 1968, NASA launches the first manned mission to the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-62-apollo-8

    Episode 61: Manned Spaceflight Returns

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 33:35


    On October 11, 1968, NASA returns astronauts to space for the first time since the Apollo 1 fire. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-61-apollo-7

    Episode 60: Man-Rating Soyuz (Again)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2022 22:03


    In October 1968, the Soviet Union is ready to launch the first earth-orbital Soyuz 7K-OK since the Soyuz 1 accident. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-60-man-rating-soyuz-again

    Episode 59: Zond Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2022 22:32


    In September 1968, the Soviet Union launches Zond 5, the first spacecraft to be recovered on earth after making a journey all the way to the moon and back. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-59-zond-program

    Episode 58: Man-Rating Apollo

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 25:13


    In early 1968, NASA finishes man-rating the Apollo lunar module and the command module during the Apollo 5 and Apollo 6 missions, respectively. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-58-man-rating-apollo

    Episode 57: N1 Rocket Delays

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 27:24


    In the aftermath of the first Saturn V launch during Apollo 4 in November 1967, the Soviet Union tried to launched its own N1 moon rocket. But repeated delays pushed the first test launch of the N1 into 1969. 

    Episode 56: Apollo 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2022 55:14


    On November 9, 1967, NASA launches the first Saturn V rocket. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-56-apollo-4

    Episode 55: Golden Jubilee of the Soviet Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2022 23:52


    In November 1967, the fiftieth anniversary of the Soviet revolution passes without a Soviet space spectacular.

    Episode 54: Soyuz 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2022 34:09


    On April 23, 1967, the Soviet Union launches Soyuz 1, the first manned mission for its second-generation spacecraft. The mission will end in disaster. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-54-soyuz-1

    Episode 53: Man-Rating Soyuz

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2022 41:45


    Between late 1966 and early 1967, Vasily Mishin declares the Soyuz 7K-OK ready for a crewed mission, despite mixed results during flight testing. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-53-man-rating-soyuz

    Episode 52: Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2022 46:48


    On January 27, 1967, astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee die in a fire inside Spacecraft 012. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-52-fire

    Episode 51: The Outer Space Treaty

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2022 39:19


    On January 27, 1967, the signing of the Outer Space Treaty signals the beginning of the end of the Space Race. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-51-outer-space-treaty

    photos space race outer space treaty
    Episode 50: Lunokhod Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 34:27


    By the end of 1966, Vasily Mishin was modifying the N1-L3 lunar landing program to include a flotilla of unmanned vehicles to support a crewed landing on the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-50-the-lunokhod-program

    Episode 49: LK700 Lunar Lander

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2022 33:59


    At the end of 1966, Vladimir Chelomey challenges Sergei Korolev's N1-L3 lunar landing program by proposing a landing on the moon using a UR-700 rocket and a LK700 spacecraft. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-49-lk-700-lunar-lander

    Episode 48: The F-1 Engine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2022 42:31


    In November 1966, NASA takes a big step toward landing on the moon when it qualifies the F-1 rocket engine for manned flight. This engine, the most powerful rocket engine in history, will launch astronauts to the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-48-the-f-1-engine

    Episode 47: Gemini XII

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2022 15:34


    On November 11, 1966, NASA launches Gemini XII, the last of the Gemini missions. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-47-gemini-xii

    Episode 46: Gemini XI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2022 24:13


    On September 12, 1966, NASA launches Gemini XI, which made the highest orbital flight of any manned spacecraft up to this day. Gemini XI will also be the first mission in space to generate artificial gravity. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-46-gemini-xi

    Episode 45: Gemini X

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2022 17:37


    On July 18, 1966, NASA launches the Gemini X mission. Gemini X is when the Gemini Program enters maturity, with the first successful double-rendezvous, multiple EVAs, and the highest orbit flown during a manned mission. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-45-gemini-x

    Episode 44: Lunar Orbiter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 30:53


    On August 14, 1966, NASA places the Lunar Orbiter 1 into lunar orbit. Lunar Orbiter 1 is only the second artificial satellite to be placed around the moon after the Soviet Union's Luna 10 probe launched in April 1966. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-44-lunar-orbiter

    Episode 43: Centaur and Surveyor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2022 57:07


    On June 3, 1966, NASA makes the first soft landing on the moon with Surveyor 1, carried there on the Centaur rocket. Centaur and Surveyor were each critical pieces of technology that enabled the eventually manned lunar landing of Apollo 11. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-43-centaur-and-surveyor

    Episode 42: Launch Complex 39

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2022 50:28


    On May 25, 1966, five years to the day that President Kennedy challenged the nation to land on the moon, Launch Complex 39, the nation's moon port, comes online when a crawler-transporter carries a 36 story tall mockup of the Saturn V rocket from a vehicle assembly building to the launch pad. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-42-launch-complex-39

    photos saturn v launch complex
    Episode 41: Gemini IX

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2022 43:25


    Looking to recover from the emergency that cut short the mission of Gemini VIII, NASA looks toward Gemini IX. But Gemini IX will be the mission where everything seems to go wrong. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-41-gemini-ix

    Episode 40: Gemini VIII

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2022 41:10


    On March 16, 1966, NASA encountered its first near-fatal accident in space during the Gemini VIII mission. At the spacecraft controls were Neil Armstrong and David Scott. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-40-gemini-viii

    Episode 39: Death of Sergei Korolev

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 35:29


    On January 14, 1966, Sergei Korolev, the instigator of the Space Race, died. In the aftermath of his death, the Soviet manned spaceflight program will change direction to place more focus in the second-generation Soyuz and unmanned vehicles. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-39-the-death-of-sergei-korolev

    Episode 38: Reprogramming Soyuz

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2022 40:49


    In 1965, internal fighting between Vladimir Chelomey and Sergei Korolev over control of the Soviet manned circumlunar flight program will cause the Soyuz Program to split into two branches. There will be an earth-orbital version of the Soyuz known as the Soyuz 7K-OK and a revised circumlunar flight version known as the Soyuz 7K-L1. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-38-soyuz-reprogrammed

    Episode 37: The N1-L3 Complex

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2022 30:09


    In 1965, Sergei Korolev firms up his plans for how the Soviet Union would land a cosmonaut on the moon's surface. The plan would rely on the N1 rocket and the L1 spacecraft complex. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-37-the-n1-l3-complex

    Episode 36: The Spirit of 76

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2022 47:12


    On October 25, 1965, NASA loses an Agena spacecraft and cancels the Gemini VI rendezvous mission. Three days after this setback, NASA announced the single most daring mission of the Gemini Program--the rendezvous of two Gemini spacecraft. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-36-the-spirit-of-76

    Episode 35: Gemini V

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2022 23:05


    On August 21, 1965, NASA launched its first attempt at a long-duration mission of 8 days, the same amount of time it would take to get to the moon and back. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-35-gemini-v

    Episode 34: Gemini IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2022 47:52


    On June 3, 1965, NASA launches the Gemini IV and performs the first American spacewalk to a live audience. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-34-gemini-iv

    Episode 33: Gemini III

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 27:06


    After a 20 month hiatus, NASA returns American astronauts to space with the Gemini III mission. Gemini III was the first manned spacecraft to maneuver in space, carried the first astronaut to return to space, and was the mission in which the first corned beef sandwich was ever consumed in space. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-33-gemini-iii

    Episode 32: Voskhod 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 37:23


    On March 18, 1965, the Soviet Union launches the Voskhod 2 mission, and Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to ever perform a spacewalk. This mission was the high-water mark of Soviet achievement in the Space Race. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-32-voskhod-2

    Episode 31: Voskhod 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2022 38:18


    The Soviet Union engages in a game of one-upmanship by launching the first multi-crewed spacecraft with the Voskhod mission just ahead of NASA's plans to launch a manned Gemini mission. https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-31-voskhod-1

    Claim A History Of The Space Race

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel