The German V-2 (Vergeltungswaffe 2) was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile and the first man-made object to reach the edge of space. Developed by Wernher von Braun, the V-2 traveled at supersonic speeds, meaning it struck its targets (primarily London and Antwerp) without any warning. While it was a terrifying weapon of war, its liquid-fuel rocket technology directly paved the way for the post-war space race. After the war, von Braun and his team were brought to the U.S. through 'Operation Paperclip,' where they eventually designed the Saturn V rocket that took humans to the Moon.