SPUTNIK: Breaking Barriers for a Modern World
Sputnik launch was hailed as a victory in Russia.
Russian newspaper announcing the Sputnik launch
American newspaper Los Angles Times announcing the Sputnik launch
Russian space program had many successes like Sputnik 2, Luna 3. Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space while Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space. Alexei Leonov was the first person to perform a space walk. Luna 9 was the first spacecraft landing on the moon.
Stamps released by USSR on successful events
They continued to have successes, even after Neil Armstrong became the first person on the moon like Venera 7 and Mars 3.
Venera 7
Mars 3
In 1991, the USSR broke and the economy was in crisis. This affected the Russian space program now Roscosmos. Still Russia continued to participate in International Space Station (ISS).
Russian Wing of International Space Station