In 1978, Ron McNair, Anna Fisher and Mike Mullane are all selected by NASA to fly aboard the newly unveiled space shuttle. For the first time in the agency’s history, aspiring astronauts of all genders and racial backgrounds have been encouraged to apply - a shift that sets the stage for both opportunity and challenge.

When the Soviet Union falls, Russia welcomes US astronauts to their space station, Mir.

The arrival of the International Space Station promises a new era of cooperation in space.

Relationships aboard the ISS are tested when war breaks out on Earth

A new perspective. At the dawn of a new space race, the personal stories of those who led us here offer a unique insight into our changing world - and where we are headed.