The Soviet Space Missions were a series of space exploration efforts led by the Soviet Union during the 20th century. Notable achievements included the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, the first artificial satellite, and Vostok 1 in 1961, which carried Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. These missions marked significant milestones in the Space Race against the United States. The Soviet Union also developed various spacecraft, including the Soyuz and Luna programs. The Luna 2 mission in 1959 was the first to reach the Moon, while Soyuz missions have continued to play a crucial role in human spaceflight, including transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.