Apollo 11 Mission Timeline By SarahBurgdorff Oct 4, 1957 USSR Launches Sputnik Jan 1, 1958 US Launches Explorer Oct 1, 1958 NASA was formed Apr 12, 1961 Russian becomes first man in Space May 5, 1961 First American in Space May 25, 1961 President John F. Kennedy addresses putting a man on the moon Feb 3, 1966 Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft land on the moon Dec 21, 1968 Apollo 8 begins the first manned journey to the moon Jul 16, 1969 Apollo 11 Takes Off Jul 20, 1969 First Man walks on Moon Jul 24, 1969 Apollo 11 Spacecraft Lands in Ocean Jan 5, 1972 President Nixon's Announcement of the Space Shuttle Apr 12, 1981 The Space Shuttle's First Flight Dec 11, 1991 Ending of The Soviet Union as a space competitor Nov 20, 1998 Creation of the International Space Station May 20, 2003 Flight of SpaceShipOne