SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en"> <head>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-139415608-4"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-139415608-4'); </script>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-NKW27JL');</script>  <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica</title> <meta name="title" content="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica"> <meta name="description" content="" /> <meta name="author" content="" /> <meta name="Copyright" content="Copyright © SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica 2024. All Rights Reserved."> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/site.webmanifest"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#024565"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon.ico"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="Britannica"> <meta name="application-name" content="Britannica"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#da532c"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11" /> <link rel="pingback" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/xmlrpc.php" /> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <meta name="description" content="To mark the anniversary of the moon landing, Britannica will start a yearlong journey to examine our past, present, and future in space." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:title" content="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:description" content="To mark the anniversary of the moon landing, Britannica will start a yearlong journey to examine our past, present, and future in space." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2020-11-30T23:06:24+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/Space-hero-headlines-without-images-4.png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="3000" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1170" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="2 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/","name":"SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/Space-hero-headlines-without-images-4.png","datePublished":"2019-04-24T00:51:23+00:00","dateModified":"2020-11-30T23:06:24+00:00","description":"To mark the anniversary of the moon landing, Britannica will start a yearlong journey to examine our past, present, and future in space.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#primaryimage","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/Space-hero-headlines-without-images-4.png","contentUrl":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/Space-hero-headlines-without-images-4.png","width":3000,"height":1170,"caption":"Britannica's SpaceNext50 Introduction"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#website","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/","name":"SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.0.8' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ugb-style-css-v2-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/stackable-ultimate-gutenberg-blocks/dist/deprecated/frontend_blocks_deprecated_v2.css?ver=3.6.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='ugb-style-css-v2-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root { --content-width: 900px; } </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #FFFFFF;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--purple: #626EAE;--wp--preset--color--blue: #539BD1;--wp--preset--color--navy: #024565;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-purple-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red: url('#wp-duotone-blue-red');--wp--preset--duotone--midnight: url('#wp-duotone-midnight');--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green: url('#wp-duotone-purple-green');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange: url('#wp-duotone-blue-orange');--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ebex-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,500;0,700;1,300;1,500;1,700&subset=latin' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='base-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/base.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-position-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.positioning.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-themes-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.themes.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nav-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/nav.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='slick-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/slick.css?ver=1.8.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='style-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/custom.css?ver=1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='color-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/colors.css?ver=1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type='text/javascript' id='ugb-block-frontend-js-v2-js-extra'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var stackable = {"restUrl":"https:\/\/explore.britannica.com\/explore\/space\/wp-json\/"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/stackable-ultimate-gutenberg-blocks/dist/deprecated/frontend_blocks_deprecated_v2.js?ver=3.6.0' id='ugb-block-frontend-js-v2-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.6.0' id='jquery-core-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.3.2' id='jquery-migrate-js'></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/5" /><link rel='shortlink' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2F&format=xml" /> <script id="ns_script_dc" data-key="12ca4747-8e80-4a36-b550-dc239c18b954" data-e="5" src="//includemodal.global.ssl.fastly.net/sp.js" type="text/javascript" async></script> <script async src="//js-sec.indexww.com/ht/htw-britannica.js"></script> <script async='async' src='https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script><script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapTOP = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([800, 600], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); var mapBOT = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([800, 600], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); var mapBOT2 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([800, 600], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240831742-0').setTargeting('POS', ['72890TOP']).defineSizeMapping(mapTOP).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240855935-0').setTargeting('POS', ['72890BOT']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240882740-0').setTargeting('POS', ['72890BOT2']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT2).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240916207-0').setTargeting('POS', ['32050MTOP']).defineSizeMapping(mapTOP).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240947400-0').setTargeting('POS', ['32050MBOT']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240973895-0').setTargeting('POS', ['32050MBOT2']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT2).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableAsyncRendering(); googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ fetchMarginPercent: 300, renderMarginPercent: 100, mobileScaling: 2.0 }); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Amazon a9"> var a9Slots = []; !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},targetingKeys:function(){return[]},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); apstag.init({pubID: '3022', adServer: 'googletag', bidTimeout: 2e3}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240831742-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/72890TOP', sizes: [ 728, 90 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240855935-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/72890BOT', sizes: [ 728, 90 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240882740-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/72890BOT2', sizes: [ 728, 90 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240916207-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/32050MTOP', sizes: [ 320, 50 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240947400-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/32050MBOT', sizes: [ 320, 50 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240973895-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_home/32050MBOT2', sizes: [ 320, 50 ]}); apstag.fetchBids({slots: a9Slots}, function() { googletag.cmd.push(function () { apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); }); </script> </head> <body class="home page-template page-template-template-full page-template-template-full-php page page-id-5 url-space blog-id-5 page-home scheme-blue elementor-default elementor-kit-5392">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-NKW27JL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="sidenav" class="sidenav none"> <ul> <li id="menu-item-5363" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5363"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-race/">Space Race</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2573" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2573"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the Explorers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5164" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5164"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3389" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3389"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/test-your-knowledge/">Quizzes</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2817" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2817"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/">Videos</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5364" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5364"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Polls</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3392" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3392"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-terms-you-should-know/">Definitions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3394" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3394"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-facts-you-should-know/">Facts and Stats</a></li> <li id="menu-item-1715" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1715"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/">Visit Britannica.com ›</a></li> <li id="menu-item-1716" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1716"><a href="https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBO_Space_USD">Start Your Free Trial ›</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sidenav-wrapper"> <header class="header"> <div class="container-full"> <div class="row"> <div class="header-logo col-6 col-3-l no-padding flex flex-middle"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" title="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" rel="home" class="trigger-logo"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space-logo.png" alt="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> </a> </div> <nav class="header-nav col-6 col-9-l no-padding flex flex-end flex-middle block-l" role="navigation"> <div class="header-navutil none flex-l"> <ul id="menu-utility-1" class="list-inlineblock"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3392"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-terms-you-should-know/">Definitions</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3394"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-facts-you-should-know/">Facts and Stats</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1715"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/">Visit Britannica.com ›</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1716"><a href="https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBO_Space_USD">Start Your Free Trial ›</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="header-navmain none flex-l"> <ul id="menu-main-1" class="list-inlineblock"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5363"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-race/">Space Race</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2573"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the Explorers</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5164"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3389"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/test-your-knowledge/">Quizzes</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2817"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/">Videos</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5364"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Polls</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="header-search"> <a href="#search" class="js-toggle-search trigger trigger-search icon icon-search"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_img/icon-search.png" /> <span class="icon-label sr">Search</span> </a> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="search-form is-active" action="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/"> <a href="#" class="js-toggle-search trigger trigger-close icon icon-close"> <span></span> <div class="icon-label sr">Close Search</div> </a> <label class="" for="s">Search:</label> <input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s"> <button type="submit" id="searchsubmit"><span class="">Submit</span></button> </form> </div> <a href="#sidenav" class="trigger-sidenav inline-block none-l"> <span class="icon-symbol icon-menu"><span></span></span> <span class="icon-label">Menu</span> </a> </nav> <nav class="megamenu"> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-1"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>The New Space Race is On </h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>The New Space Race</h3> <p>The new space race isn't between a couple of countries but among several players, particularly the fast-growing economies of China, India, and Japan.</p> <span>See what countries are in›</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Chandrayaan</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/chandrayaan-1/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/chandrayaan-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Chandrayaan</h3> <p>Chandrayaan-1 is an Indian lunar space probe that used reflected radiation to prospect for various elements, minerals, and ice.</p> <span>Learn more about Indian space probe</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>After the Moon Landing</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/after-moon-landing-timeline/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/5-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>After the Moon Landing Timeline</h3> <p>What happened after the Moon landing and after Apollo 11? What steps did the world take?</p> <span>View the Timeline</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-2"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Architect of Chinese space program</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/qian-xuesen/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/qian-xuesen-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Qian Xuesen</h3> <p>Qian Xuesen was a Chinese engineer and research scientist widely recognized as the “father of Chinese aerospace” for his role in establishing China’s ballistic missile program.</p> <span>Discover this engineer pioneer</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Paving the way for women</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/valentina-tereshkova/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/3000x1170-Space-Quiz-Heros-5-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Valentina Tereshkova</h3> <p>Valentina Tereshkova, Soviet cosmonaut, was the first woman to travel into space.</p> <span>Read about the first </span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>First Chinese in Space</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/yang-liwei/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/liwei-hero2-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Yang Liwei</h3> <p>Yang Liwei is a Chinese astronaut and the first person sent into space by the Chinese space program.</p> <span>Read more about the first from China</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-3"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Extraordinary Leaps </h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/spacex/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/spacex-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>SpaceX</h3> <p>SpaceX is an American aerospace company founded in 2002 that helped usher in the era of commercial spaceflight.</p> <span>Learn more</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>What is Space Tourism</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-tourism/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-tourism-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Space Tourism</h3> <p>Space tourism is recreational space travel, either on established government-owned vehicles or on a growing number of vehicles fielded by private companies. </p> <span>Would you go into space</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>What it means to send a signal</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/satellite-telecommunications/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/3000x1170-Space-Quiz-Heros-14-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Satellite Telecommunications</h3> <p>Engineers developed a design for a satellite that would operate in geostationary orbit. </p> <span>Read about its origin</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-4"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Space Exploration</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-exploration-quiz/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-exploration-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Space Exploration Quiz</h3> <p>Was Australia the last continent to be discovered? Who was the first human to orbit Earth? From treks through the South Pole to launches into space, test your knowledge of human exploration in this quiz.</p> <span>Take Your Best Shot</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Moon Vs Asteroid</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-vs-asteroid-quiz/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-v-asteroid-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>This or That? Moon vs. Asteroid</h3> <p>So you’ve got the planets down pat—let’s see if you know your moons. Are these astronomical bodies moons or asteroids?</p> <span>What do you know?</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Small Step, Giant Leap</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/small-step-giant-leap-fact-or-fiction/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/small-step-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Small Step, Giant Leap: Fact or Fiction?</h3> <p>Is the Moon the only object in the solar system to have craters? Take a "giant leap"—or a "small step"—and learn more about the Moon in this quiz.</p> <span>Test your knowledge</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-5"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-info"> <h4> Did you know?</h4> <div class="megamenu-ghost"> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <p>An estimated 650 Million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice describe the event as he took “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969.</p> <p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-1078 size-thumbnail" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-150x150.jpg 150w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-300x300.jpg 300w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-600x600.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Watch The New Space Race</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Video-SpaceRace</h3> <p>From India to China, the space race is expanding. Take a few minutes to explore videos from around the globe. </p> <span>Watch on</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Watch Moon Landing History</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-moonlanding/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/0000138702-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Video-Moonlanding</h3> <p>Watch history unfold. This page highlights stories told in video from Apollo 11 Liftoff to faking the moon landing.</p> <span>Watch on</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main class="main"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="content col-12"> <div class="alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-b23044a ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block"><style>.ugb-b23044a-wrapper > .ugb-container__side{padding-top:120px !important;padding-bottom:120px !important;align-items:center !important}.ugb-b23044a-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{padding-top:0 !important;padding-bottom:0 !important;background-color:#FFFFFF !important;background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/3000x1170-Space-hero-1.png)}.ugb-b23044a-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#FFFFFF !important;opacity:0}.ugb-b23044a h1,.ugb-b23044a h2,.ugb-b23044a h3,.ugb-b23044a h4,.ugb-b23044a h5,.ugb-b23044a h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-b23044a p,.ugb-b23044a li,.ugb-b23044a label,.ugb-b23044a table{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-b23044a a,.ugb-b23044a a:visited,.ugb-b23044a a:focus{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-b23044a a:hover{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#FFFFFF}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:50% !important}.ugb-b23044a.ugb-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important}}</style><div class="ugb-inner-block"><div class="ugb-block-content"><div class="ugb-container__wrapper ugb-b23044a-wrapper ugb--shadow-3 ugb--has-background-overlay"><div class="ugb-container__side"><div class="ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-b23044a-content-wrapper"> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img width="2083" height="833" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space_logo_final-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4177" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space_logo_final-1.png 2083w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space_logo_final-1-768x307.png 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space_logo_final-1-1024x410.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px" /></figure> </div></div></div></div></div></div> <div style="height:70px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h3 class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Our mission is to feed the world’s curiosity about space.</strong></h3> <p>We know that what we know may only be the tip of the iceberg. We know that there’s so much more to explore. What lies in space, and why are we so fascinated with it? What can it teach us? Who has the right to explore space? Will private money outspend public money? Will the nations of the world be able to coexist peacefully in space?</p> <h3 class="has-text-align-center">From the race to the Moon to space stewardship…</h3> <p>We explore subjects ranging from whether space tourism will become widespread to how spaceflight will be a part of the global economy in the mid-21st century. With the help of our readers, we’ll answer why space interests us so much. What is our fascination with space? Is space a global story of human frontiers? What potential does space hold? Is our future, and maybe even our survival, truly out there? These are some of the questions that will drive SpaceNext50.</p> <div class="alignfull wp-block-ugb-image-box ugb-image-box box-fancy ugb-1969167 ugb-image-box--v4 ugb-image-box--columns-4 ugb-image-box--design-basic ugb-image-box--align-center ugb-main-block"><style>.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__box{border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item{height:295px !important;justify-content:center !important}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item1 .ugb-image-box__image{background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/3000x1170-Space-hero-2.png)}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item2 .ugb-image-box__image{background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/spacex-81773-unsplash-1.jpg)}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item3 .ugb-image-box__image{background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2-7.png)}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item4 .ugb-image-box__image{background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/5-3.png)}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__item:hover .ugb-image-box__overlay-hover{opacity:0.7 !important}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__title{color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-image-box__description{color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-1969167 .ugb-inner-block{text-align:center}</style><div class="ugb-inner-block"><div class="ugb-block-content"><div class="ugb-image-box__item ugb-image-box__item1 ugb-image-box__box ugb--shadow-0"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image-wrapper"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image" role="img" aria-label="Space Race"></div></div><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__overlay-hover"></div><div class="ugb-image-box__content"><div class="ugb-image-box__header"><h4 class="ugb-image-box__title">Space Race</h4></div></div><a class="ugb-image-box__overlay-link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-race/" title="Space Race" aria-label="Space Race"></a></div><div class="ugb-image-box__item ugb-image-box__item2 ugb-image-box__box ugb--shadow-0"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image-wrapper"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image" role="img" aria-label="Space Business"></div></div><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__overlay-hover"></div><div class="ugb-image-box__content"><div class="ugb-image-box__header"><h4 class="ugb-image-box__title">Space Business</h4></div></div><a class="ugb-image-box__overlay-link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-business/" title="Space Business" aria-label="Space Business"></a></div><div class="ugb-image-box__item ugb-image-box__item3 ugb-image-box__box ugb--shadow-0"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image-wrapper"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image" role="img" aria-label="Space Prediction"></div></div><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__overlay-hover"></div><div class="ugb-image-box__content"><div class="ugb-image-box__header"><h4 class="ugb-image-box__title">Space Prediction</h4></div></div><a class="ugb-image-box__overlay-link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-prediction/" title="Space Prediction" aria-label="Space Prediction"></a></div><div class="ugb-image-box__item ugb-image-box__item4 ugb-image-box__box ugb--shadow-0"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image-wrapper"><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__image" role="img" aria-label="Space Stewardship"></div></div><div class="ugb-image-box__box ugb-image-box__overlay-hover"></div><div class="ugb-image-box__content"><div class="ugb-image-box__header"><h4 class="ugb-image-box__title">Space Stewardship</h4></div></div><a class="ugb-image-box__overlay-link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-stewardship/" title="Space Stewardship" aria-label="Space Stewardship"></a></div></div></div></div> <div style="height:70px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="ad-unit ad-leaderboard acf/ad-billboard" id="adunit-block_5ce40e6e9780c"> <div class="ad-wrapper">  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240831742-0' style='height:90px; width:728px;' class="none block-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240831742-0'); });</script> </div> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240916207-0' style='height:50px; width:320px;' class="block none-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240916207-0'); });</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-container--width-small ugb-16fa906 ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block"><style>.ugb-16fa906-wrapper > .ugb-container__side{padding-top:120px !important;padding-bottom:120px !important;align-items:center !important}.ugb-16fa906-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{padding-top:0 !important;padding-bottom:0 !important;background-color:#024565 !important;background-image:url(https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/13-2.jpg)}.ugb-16fa906-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#024565 !important;opacity:0.5}.ugb-16fa906 h1,.ugb-16fa906 h2,.ugb-16fa906 h3,.ugb-16fa906 h4,.ugb-16fa906 h5,.ugb-16fa906 h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-16fa906 p,.ugb-16fa906 li,.ugb-16fa906 label,.ugb-16fa906 table{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-16fa906 a,.ugb-16fa906 a:visited,.ugb-16fa906 a:focus{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-16fa906 a:hover{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#FFFFFF}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:50% !important}.ugb-16fa906.ugb-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important}}</style><div class="ugb-inner-block"><div class="ugb-block-content"><div class="ugb-container__wrapper ugb-16fa906-wrapper ugb--shadow-3 ugb--has-background-overlay"><div class="ugb-container__side"><div class="ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-16fa906-content-wrapper"> <h2><strong>Space Race: Old and New</strong></h2> <p><strong>What propelled us to look to the Moon? What ignited the inspiration and the dream? What helped us to mobilize in the space race?</strong></p> <div class="wp-block-button aligncenter is-style-fill"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/">Space Race in a snapshot</a></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div> <div class="ad-unit ad-leaderboard acf/ad-billboard" id="adunit-block_5ce4656214e9a"> <div class="ad-wrapper">  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240855935-0' style='height:90px; width:728px;' class="none block-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240855935-0'); });</script> </div> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240947400-0' style='height:50px; width:320px;' class="block none-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240947400-0'); });</script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="slides-wrap alignfull"> <div class="slides" id="slides-block_5d6989a5acb76"> <div class="slide"> <div class="slide-wrapper"> <div class="slide-image"> <div class="slide-image-wrap"> <img width="3000" height="1175" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/planets-and-earth-quiz-hero.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="saturn is a planet" loading="lazy" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/planets-and-earth-quiz-hero.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/planets-and-earth-quiz-hero-768x301.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/planets-and-earth-quiz-hero-1024x401.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /> </div> </div> <div class="slide-margin"> <div class="slide-content text-left"> <h4>Featured Quiz</h4> <h2>Planets and the Earth’s Moon Quiz</h2> <div class="slide-indent"> <p>What’s the relationship between distant planets and supposed extraterrestrial life? What is our solar system’s hottest planet? Strap on your thinking caps—and seat belts—and test your astronomy knowledge in this quiz.</p> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/planets-and-the-earths-moon-quiz/" class="button">Test Your Knowledge </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="slide"> <div class="slide-wrapper"> <div class="slide-image"> <div class="slide-image-wrap"> <img width="3000" height="1175" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-travel-quiz-hero.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="satellite traveling through space" loading="lazy" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-travel-quiz-hero.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-travel-quiz-hero-768x301.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-travel-quiz-hero-1024x401.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /> </div> </div> <div class="slide-margin"> <div class="slide-content text-left"> <h4>Featured Quiz</h4> <h2>Space Travel: Fact or Fiction?</h2> <div class="slide-indent"> <p>Was Mariner 1 the first spacecraft to photograph Earth from the Moon? From space shuttles to space stations, navigate the outer limits in this quiz.</p> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/space-travel-fact-or-fiction/" class="button">Test your knowledge </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="slide"> <div class="slide-wrapper"> <div class="slide-image"> <div class="slide-image-wrap"> <img width="3000" height="1175" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/brightest-star-quiz-hero.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="the sun is actually a star" loading="lazy" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/brightest-star-quiz-hero.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/brightest-star-quiz-hero-768x301.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/brightest-star-quiz-hero-1024x401.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /> </div> </div> <div class="slide-margin"> <div class="slide-content text-left"> <h4>Featured Quiz</h4> <h2>Brightest Star in the Solar System Quiz</h2> <div class="slide-indent"> <p>This giant ball of energy regulates our perspective of time, but how much do you really know about the Sun? Turn on your mental lightbulbs and find out in this quiz.</p> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/brightest-star-in-the-solar-system-quiz/" class="button">Test your knowledge </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alignfull wp-block-ugb-container ugb-container ugb-bb0269f ugb-container--v2 ugb-container--design-basic ugb-main-block"><style>.ugb-bb0269f-wrapper > .ugb-container__side{padding-top:120px !important;padding-bottom:120px !important;align-items:center !important}.ugb-bb0269f-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper{padding-top:0 !important;padding-bottom:0 !important;background-color:#024565 !important}.ugb-bb0269f-wrapper.ugb-container__wrapper:before{background-color:#024565 !important}.ugb-bb0269f h1,.ugb-bb0269f h2,.ugb-bb0269f h3,.ugb-bb0269f h4,.ugb-bb0269f h5,.ugb-bb0269f h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-bb0269f p,.ugb-bb0269f li,.ugb-bb0269f label,.ugb-bb0269f table{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-bb0269f a,.ugb-bb0269f a:visited,.ugb-bb0269f a:focus{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-bb0269f a:hover{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h1,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h2,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h3,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h4,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h5,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > h6{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > p,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > ol li,.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper > ul li{color:#FFFFFF}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper.ugb-container__content-wrapper{width:60% !important}.ugb-bb0269f.ugb-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important}}</style><div class="ugb-inner-block"><div class="ugb-block-content"><div class="ugb-container__wrapper ugb-bb0269f-wrapper ugb--shadow-3"><div class="ugb-container__side"><div class="ugb-container__content-wrapper ugb-bb0269f-content-wrapper"> <h2 class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h2> <div class="wp-block-ugb-count-up ugb-count-up ugb-4af9394 ugb-countup--v4 ugb-countup--columns-4 ugb-main-block"><style>.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__icon,.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__counter,.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__title,.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__description{text-align:left}.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__counter{font-size:40px !important;font-weight:400 !important}.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__title{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-countup__description{color:#FFFFFF}.ugb-4af9394 .ugb-inner-block{text-align:left}</style><div class="ugb-inner-block"><div class="ugb-block-content"><div class="ugb-countup__item ugb-countup__item1"><div class="ugb-countup__counter" data-duration="1000" data-delay="16"><strong>62</strong></div><p class="ugb-countup__description">Space starts 62 miles (100 km) above Earth.<br></p></div><div class="ugb-countup__item ugb-countup__item2"><div class="ugb-countup__counter" data-duration="1000" data-delay="16"><strong>5</strong></div><p class="ugb-countup__description">Countries planning to send missions to the Moon<br><br></p></div><div class="ugb-countup__item ugb-countup__item3"><div class="ugb-countup__counter" data-duration="1000" data-delay="16"><strong>6</strong></div><p class="ugb-countup__description">People in space right now</p></div><div class="ugb-countup__item ugb-countup__item4"><div class="ugb-countup__counter" data-duration="1000" data-delay="16"><strong>8</strong></div><p class="ugb-countup__description">Orbiters and rovers currently working around and on Mars</p></div></div></div></div> <div class="wp-block-button aligncenter"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-facts-you-should-know/">See all amazing space stats</a></div> <p></p> </div></div></div></div></div></div> <div style="height:48px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="has-text-align-center"><strong>See the latest news from space</strong></h2> <div class="news excerpts excerpts-four" id="news-block_5d5c4b59857bf"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://spacenews.com/intelsat-declares-bankruptcy-as-means-to-fund-c-band-spectrum-clearing/" target="_blank"> <div class="excerpt-wrap"> <div class="excerpt-thumb"> </div> <div class="excerpt-content"> <p class="excerpt-date has-small-font-size"> <strong></strong> </p> <h3>Intelsat files for Chapter 11</h3> <div class="has-small-font-size"> Intelsat, which operates 50 communication satellites, filed for bankruptcy. Chapter 11 will allow the company to participate in an FCC program that could earn it nearly $5 billion. <span class="excerpt-link excerpt-external font-600">View Article</span> </div> </div> </div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/05/13/spacex-demo-2-crew-members-enter-preflight-quarantine/" target="_blank"> <div class="excerpt-wrap"> <div class="excerpt-thumb"> </div> <div class="excerpt-content"> <p class="excerpt-date has-small-font-size"> <strong></strong> </p> <h3>Astronauts enter preflight quarantine</h3> <div class="has-small-font-size"> Astronauts Robert Behnken and Doug Hurley entered preflight quarantine before their planned launch to the ISS on May 27. Their flight will be the first launch from the US since 2011. <span class="excerpt-link excerpt-external font-600">View Article</span> </div> </div> </div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://spacenews.com/new-chinese-spacecraft-landing-marks-step-toward-future-crewed-lunar-missions/" target="_blank"> <div class="excerpt-wrap"> <div class="excerpt-thumb"> </div> <div class="excerpt-content"> <p class="excerpt-date has-small-font-size"> <strong></strong> </p> <h3>China tests new spacecraft</h3> <div class="has-small-font-size"> China tested a new spacecraft that will likely replace the Shenzhou in transporting astronauts to space. It was launched by the first Long March 5B, a new heavy-lift rocket. <span class="excerpt-link excerpt-external font-600">View Article</span> </div> </div> </div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronaut_urine_for_building_a_Moon_base" target="_blank"> <div class="excerpt-wrap"> <div class="excerpt-thumb"> </div> <div class="excerpt-content"> <p class="excerpt-date has-small-font-size"> <strong></strong> </p> <h3>Urine may be used to make Moon concrete</h3> <div class="has-small-font-size"> The European Space Agency has found that adding urea, the main compound in urine made lunar concrete stronger than previously proposed mixtures. <span class="excerpt-link excerpt-external font-600">View Article</span> </div> </div> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="wp-block-button aligncenter"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/news/">See all news</a></div> <div class="ad-unit ad-leaderboard acf/ad-billboard" id="adunit-block_5ce4655414e99"> <div class="ad-wrapper">  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240882740-0' style='height:90px; width:728px;' class="none block-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240882740-0'); });</script> </div> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1559240973895-0' style='height:50px; width:320px;' class="block none-l"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1559240973895-0'); });</script> </div> </div> </div> <div style="height:70px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <nav class="footer-nav col-12"> <ul id="menu-footer" class="list-block list-disable"><li id="menu-item-2576" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-2576"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore">Special Content</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2577" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2577"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore/100women">100Women</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2578" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2578"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore/SavingEarth">Earth’s To-Do List</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2579" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2579"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/">World War II</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3645" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-3645"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/race-to-the-moon/">Race to the Moon</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-3646" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3646"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-landing-timeline/">Moon Landing Timeline</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3648" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-post menu-item-3648"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-landing-facts/">Moon Landing : Just the Facts</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3647" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-post menu-item-3647"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/after-apollo-what/">After Apollo, What?</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-2617" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-2617"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-race/">Space Exploration</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2613" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2613"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the People</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3653" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3653"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Space Race Polls</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2616" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2616"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-prediction/">Space Prediction</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2619" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2619"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-stewardship/">Space Stewardship</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2614" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2614"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3649" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-3649"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/test-your-knowledge/">Test Your Knowledge</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-3650" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3650"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-vs-asteroid-quiz/">This or That? Moon vs. Asteroid</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3652" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3652"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-fact-or-fiction/">Space: Fact or Fiction?</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3651" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3651"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/stars-explosions-in-space-quiz/">Stars: Explosions in Space Quiz</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="container flex flex-bottom"> <div class="row"> <div class="footer-legal col-12 has-small-font-size"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" title="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" rel="home"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_img/footer-logo.png" alt="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> </a> <div class="legal-links"> <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a> <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html">Terms of Use</a> <button id="doNotSell">Do Not Sell My Info</button> </div> Copyright 2024 <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</a> All rights reserved. </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <script>requestAnimationFrame(() => document.body.classList.add( "stk--anim-init" ))</script><script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/social-polls-by-opinionstage/public/js/shortcodes.js?ver=19.8.14' id='opinionstage-shortcodes-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/jquery.mmenu.js?ver=7.3.2' id='functions-mmenu-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/slick.min.js?ver=1.8.1' id='functions-slick-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/functions.js?ver=1.1' id='functions-script-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/ccpa.js?ver=0.2' id='functions-ccpa-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/prebid2.11.0.js?ver=2.11.0' id='functions-prebid-js'></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica