Space exploration began in 1957 with the Soviet Union’s launch of **Sputnik 1**, the first artificial satellite. This marked the start of the space race, leading to significant milestones such as **Yuri Gagarin** becoming the first human in space in 1961 and the U.S. landing **Neil Armstrong** on the moon in 1969 during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. Over the decades, space exploration expanded with space stations like **Mir** and the **International Space Station (ISS)**. Recent advancements include the rise of private companies like SpaceX and missions to Mars. The future of space exploration focuses on deeper space travel and colonization, with Mars as a key target.