6 Decades of Space Exploration

On Oct. 4, 2007, the human race celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, by the former Soviet Union.

That space shot also launched the Space Race to the moon between the United States and the Soviet Union. Despite that turbulent beginning, the initial launch has led to 6 decades of triumphs and tragedies in space science and exploration.