Space Race: (1950's-1960's) The Soviet Union and the United States competed in a war for technological superiority. Neither country had yet sent anything into outer space and were vigorously competing to be the first. The Soviet Union succeeded in being the first on October 4, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. The launch brought fear to many people in the U.S. because it proved that the Soviets had greater technology than them. They feared the Soviets had the capability of sending intercontinental nuclear missiles with this technology. In order to rapidly improve the United States' aeronautical power, NASA was formed. One January 31, 1958 the United States succeeded in launching their own satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit. The new competition between the two superpowers was to send the first man to the moon. On April 12, 1961 the Soviets sent the first man into orbit and on May 5, the U.S. performed the same feat. In 1969 the Apollo Space program was created by NASA in order to get a man on the moon after Roosevelt said it would happen before the end of the decade. On July 20th, 1969 the United States achieved the feat on its eleventh attempt. Apollo 11 delivered Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin successfully to the moon, making the the U.S. the victor in the Space Race.