The Space Race was a technological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in demonstrating superiority in aerospace capabilities, including artificial satellites launches, robotic space probes to the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and human spaceflight in low Earth orbit and ultimately landing on the Moon. This blog features my collection of US and Soviet Union space events on covers and press photos.
1962-04-23 USA Ranger 4
Following a successful launch on April 23, 1962, communication with Ranger 4 was lost. Although the spacecraft could be tracked until it crashed on the far side of the Moon on April 26, 1962, no data could be collected.
Ranger 4 crash-landed on the Moon on April 26, 1962, becoming the first American spacecraft to reach the lunar surface.