How long was The Space Race?

The Space Race lasted 18 years (1957 – 1975) across 4 major phases.

Duration Overview

Duration

18 years

Start

1957 AD

End

1975 AD

Soviet Firsts 4 years

1957 AD – 1961 AD

Sputnik (1957). Laika. Gagarin first in space (1961). USSR dominates.

Mercury & Gemini 5 years

1961 AD – 1966 AD

Kennedy's Moon speech. Glenn orbits. Gemini masters rendezvous & EVA.

Apollo Program 6 years

1966 AD – 1972 AD

Apollo 1 fire. Apollo 8 orbits Moon. Apollo 11 lands (July 20, 1969). 6 landings total.

Détente in Space 3 years

1972 AD – 1975 AD

Apollo-Soyuz (1975). Handshake in orbit. Space Race officially ends.

That's 18 years — roughly a human lifetime. Someone born at the start could have lived to see the end.

How long was The Space Race?

18 years (1957-1975). From Sputnik to Apollo-Soyuz. The US and USSR competed to achieve firsts in spaceflight, culminating in the Moon landing.

When did The Space Race start and end?

The Space Race began in 1957 and ended in 1975, spanning 18 years.