<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Since the first human spaceflight by the Soviet Union, citizens of 40 countries have flown in space . For each nationality, the launch date of the first mission is listed . The list is based on the nationality of the person at the time of the launch . Only 3 of the 40 "first flyers" have been women (Helen Sharman for the United Kingdom in 1991, Anousheh Ansari for Iran in 2006, and Yi So - yeon for South Korea in 2008). Only three nations (Soviet Union / Russia, U.S., China) have launched their own manned spacecraft, with the Soviets / Russians and the American programs providing rides to other nations' astronauts . Twenty - six "first flights" occurred on Soviet or Russian flights while the United States carried thirteen . </P> <P> Note: All dates given are UTC . Countries indicated in bold have achieved independent human spaceflight capability . </P>

Which country was the first to go to space