The first 5 countries to achieve 'independent' human spaceflight capability

Human spaceflight has been a remarkable achievement in the history of space exploration. Only a handful of countries have successfully developed and launched their crewed spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in their space programs.

According to records from NASA, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, and the International Astronautical Federation, here are the first 5 countries to achieve independent human spaceflight capability:

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union achieved a historic milestone on April 12, 1961, when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.

United States

Just a few weeks after Gagarin's flight, NASA's astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space on May 5, 1961, aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft.

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia participated in the Interkosmos programme, a Soviet-led international spaceflight programme that allowed Eastern Bloc countries to send cosmonauts to space. Vladimír Remek became the first Czech cosmonaut on March 2, 1978.

Poland

Poland also participated in the Interkosmos programme, with Mirosław Hermaszewski becoming the first Polish cosmonaut on June 27, 1978.

East Germany

Sigmund Jähn made history as the first German in space. On August 26, 1978, he travelled aboard Soyuz 31 as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos program, heading to the Russian Salyut 6 space station. At the time, Jähn was a citizen of East Germany.