This is a timeline of achievements in Soviet and United States spaceflight, spanning the Cold War era of nationalistic competition known as the Space Race. This list is limited to first achievements by the USSR and USA which were important during the Space Race in terms of public perception and/or technical innovation. This excludes first uses of specific on-board equipment and new scientific discoveries, or achievements by other countries. Beginning 1957–1959 1960–1969 1970–1979 1980–1989 On 1991 December 31, the United Nations accepted the dissolution of the USSR, which meant the end of the space race. See also List of communications satellite firsts List of space exploration milestones, 1957–1969 Timeline of space exploration Timeline of first orbital launches by country Timeline of space travel by nationality Notes References External links Timeline of the Space Race/Moon Race Chronology: Moon Race at russianspaceweb.com Lists of firsts in space Space policy Technological races Space Race History of science and technology in the United States Soviet Union–United States relations Spaceflight timelines Space Race