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Sputnik 1
The first man-made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958 -
Luna 1
First man-made satellite to orbit the moon, is launched by the U.S.S.R -
First Space Walk
The first space walk is made from Soviet Voskhod 2 by Cosmonaut Alexei A. Leonov. Duration is 12 minutes. -
Soviet Soyuz 1
is launched, carrying Vladimir M. Komarov. On April 24 it crashed, killing Komarov, the first spaceflight fatality. -
Apollo 11
Neil Armstrong, Edwin E., and Aldrin, Jr. made the first manned soft landing on the Moon, and the first moonwalk, using Apollo 11. -
Salyut 7
falls from orbit and burns up over Argentina. -
Space Shuttle Columbia
Lifts off for the shortest shuttle flight in 12 years (4 days). The flight is cut short due to a failure of one of the space crafts three fuel cells.