After the US Moon Landing
After the United States' Apollo 11 mission successfully landed a man on the Moon, both superpowers in the Space Race shifted their focus to other issues, having reached some sort of closure. The relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union thus improved. Under the Nixon administration, American space research was quickly scaled back as President Nixon didn't see as many benefits from the space program as President Kennedy had envisioned. The post-Space Race administration was very concerned with budget, and consequently the space program focused on cooperative actives with the Soviet Union such as joint spacecraft projects, satellite broadcasting, and remote sensing. The purpose of these initiatives was to share cost of research and promote better relations between the nations.
Cooperation Between Countries
The US and USSR entered a Science and Applications Agreement in 1971, which involved the exchange of lunar samples, biomedical research, and data collected by planetary probes. This shared information ultimately benefited both nations because it allowed the most current and groundbreaking research to propagate in both countries, leading to a greater possibility of life-changing or life-saving innovation.
Another pivotal moment in American-Soviet relations was the Summit Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. Signed by President Nixon, it led to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, a joint human spaceflight mission that ultimately symbolized improvement of mutual relations. On July 17, 1975, American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft met and docked for two days; during this time, the astronauts from the two countries met each other, conducted joint experiments, and even exchanged gifts.
Another pivotal moment in American-Soviet relations was the Summit Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. Signed by President Nixon, it led to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, a joint human spaceflight mission that ultimately symbolized improvement of mutual relations. On July 17, 1975, American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft met and docked for two days; during this time, the astronauts from the two countries met each other, conducted joint experiments, and even exchanged gifts.
The Aftermath
As a result of the aforementioned initiatives, relations improved between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and other political tensions still stopped most cooperative space efforts until after the collapse of the USSR on December 26, 1991. In the meantime, many other countries around the world caught up with the advanced space technology that the two superpowers had developed during the Space Race, finally leveling the playing field.
After the USSR collapsed and the Cold War ended, the United States and the new county of Russia worked together, along with other countries, to build the International Space Station, which was launched into orbit in 1998 and remains in use today.
After the USSR collapsed and the Cold War ended, the United States and the new county of Russia worked together, along with other countries, to build the International Space Station, which was launched into orbit in 1998 and remains in use today.
So what did the Space Race accomplish?
It may seem like the endeavors of the Space Race were a massive waste of resources, time, and money that could all have been better spent elsewhere (such as improving the lives of individual people). But the technological and scientific insights gained during this time of intense research have revolutionized daily life in unexpected ways. For example, memory foam pillows and mattresses originated from materials synthesized for the US space program. Life-saving cancer treatments also owe their roots to the Space Race. Ultimately, the Space Race reflected Cold War-era sentiment that engendered animosity and anxiety in millions. But it is also important to recognize the undeniable benefits that resulted from this time period as well.