 The German V-2 was the first rocket to travel into space, overcoming the problems of thrust and material failure.During the final days of World War II this technology was obtained by both the Americans and Soviets as were its designers.The initial driving force for further development of the technology was a weapons race for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to be used as long-range carriers for fast nuclear weapon delivery, but in 1961 when the Soviet Union launched the first man into space, the United States declared itself to be in a "Space Race" with the Soviets.