Russian Rulers History Podcast · Mark Schauss

The Soviet Space Program - Part One

·25 min·2 clips
How did the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 launch in 1957 shock the world and start the Space Race?
This episode explores the origins and early development of the Soviet space program, focusing on key figures like Sergei Korolev and early pioneers. It covers rocket testing, the launch of Sputnik 1, and the challenges faced, including political pressures and technical failures.

As heard by us

War-built rockets, early theorists, and the Soviet push toward space.

The episode follows the Soviet space program as it moves from wartime damage into disciplined, state-backed work. It starts with the early thinkers who made spaceflight imaginable, then shifts into military control, rocket brigades, test launches, and the R-series as theory…

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Why you'd press play

If you want the road from wartime rockets to lunar ambition, press play.

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