The leader of the Soviet space program during the Space Race was Sergei Korolev. As a chief designer and engineer, Korolev played a central role in achieving significant milestones, including launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, and sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961. His leadership and innovative approaches were crucial in propelling the Soviet space program to the forefront of global space exploration, marking a significant period of competition and technological advancement between the United States and the Soviet Union.