The space race

太空竞赛

The space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union began in October of 1957, when the Soviets launched the first man-made satellite into orbit around Earth.

1957年10月，前苏联成功发射了第一颗绕地球飞行的人造卫星，正式拉开美国与前苏联太空竞赛的序幕。

Weeks later the second satellite was launched.

数周之后，第二颗人造卫星发射了。

Their success added to the tensions of what was known as the Cold War, which many people worried could lead to nuclear war.

苏联的成功加剧了两国之前的冷战，引起了人们对核战争的恐慌，

And it pushed Americans to work harder to reach outer space.

也推动了美国人加紧了对外太空的探索。

Three months later, the United States launched its own satellite.

三个月后，美国发射了它的第一颗人造卫星。

Then, in 1961, the Soviet Union sent the first person into space.

紧接着，苏联在1961年将第一位宇航员送入太空。

An American astronaut followed less than a month later.

不出一个月，美国宇航员也成功进入太空。

The space race continued.

太空战争仍在继续，

The finish line was the moon.

而终点线是在月球。

And it was reached when the crew of an American spaceship landed in 1969.

1969年，美国宇航员到达了这条终点线。

Today, there is cooperation between the Russian and American space programs.

如今，美国和俄罗斯在太空领域相互协作，进一步探索太空奥秘。

Astronauts share duties on the International Space Station. And other countries are expanding their space programs.

宇航员们在国际太空站各司其职。其他国家也开始开展太空计划。