12 Years. Two Superpowers. One Moon.

The Space Race: Sputnik to Tranquility Base is now live on Launchpad History.

This is a comprehensive course covering the full arc of the Soviet-American space rivalry — from the shock of Sputnik in October 1957 to Neil Armstrong's bootprint in the Sea of Tranquility in July 1969.

What's Inside

• 6 chapters, 18 lessons of in-depth historical narrative

• The real stories behind Gagarin, Shepard, Glenn, the Gemini program, Apollo 1, and the Moon landing

• Analysis through the lens of empire-building and great power competition

• Sequential curriculum with certificate on completion

• Access to Mission Control Chat for discussion with fellow students

Who This Is For

History enthusiasts, Cold War buffs, STEM educators, aviation and space nerds, and anyone who's ever looked at the Moon and wondered how twelve human beings managed to walk on it.

I approach the Space Race not as a feel-good science story, but as what it truly was: a contest between two civilizations for control over the ultimate high ground. If you want the real story — not the sanitized version — this is it.

Start your 1-day free trial today. 🌑

12 Years. Two Superpowers. One Moon.

The Space Race: Sputnik to Tranquility Base is now live on Launchpad History.

This is a comprehensive course covering the full arc of the Soviet-American space rivalry — from the shock of Sputnik in October 1957 to Neil Armstrong's bootprint in the Sea of Tranquility in July 1969.

What's Inside

• 6 chapters, 18 lessons of in-depth historical narrative

• The real stories behind Gagarin, Shepard, Glenn, the Gemini program, Apollo 1, and the Moon landing

• Analysis through the lens of empire-building and great power competition

• Sequential curriculum with certificate on completion

• Access to Mission Control Chat for discussion with fellow students

• Regular instructor updates and supplementary material

Who This Is For

History enthusiasts, Cold War buffs, STEM educators, aviation and space nerds, and anyone who's ever looked at the Moon and wondered how twelve human beings managed to walk on it.

Taught by a Historian of Empires

I approach the Space Race not as a feel-good science story, but as what it truly was: a contest between two civilizations for control over the ultimate high ground. Every rocket, every mission, every tragedy was shaped by the logic of power. If you want the real story — not the sanitized version — this is it.

Start your 1-day free trial today. 🌑

12 Years. Two Superpowers. One Moon.

The Space Race: Sputnik to Tranquility Base is now live on Launchpad History.

This is a comprehensive course covering the full arc of the Soviet-American space rivalry — from the shock of Sputnik in October 1957 to Neil Armstrong's bootprint in the Sea of Tranquility in July 1969.

What's Inside

• 6 chapters, 18 lessons of in-depth historical narrative

• The real stories behind Gagarin, Shepard, Glenn, the Gemini program, Apollo 1, and the Moon landing

• Analysis through the lens of empire-building and great power competition

• Sequential curriculum with certificate on completion

• Access to Mission Control Chat for discussion with fellow students

• Regular instructor updates and supplementary material

Who This Is For

History enthusiasts, Cold War buffs, STEM educators, aviation and space nerds, and anyone who's ever looked at the Moon and wondered how twelve human beings managed to walk on it.

Taught by a Historian of Empires

I approach the Space Race not as a feel-good science story, but as what it truly was: a contest between two civilizations for control over the ultimate high ground. Every rocket, every mission, every tragedy was shaped by the logic of power. If you want the real story — not the sanitized version — this is it.

Start your 1-day free trial today. 🌑