first american in space

By caleb.ellis

  • sputnik 1 was launched

    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.

  • sputnik 2 is launched

    Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, 1958.

  • Explorer 1 is launched

    Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and

  • Explorer 2 is launched

    Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.

  • Vanguard 1 satellite is launched

    Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into orbit, and continues to transmit for 3 years.

  • Sputnik 3 is launched

    Sputnik 3 is launched by the U.S.S.R.

  • N.A.S.A. is founded

    N.A.S.A. is founded, taking over existing National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.

  • Pioneer 1 is launched to a hieght of 70,700 miles

    Pioneer 1, U.S. - IGY space probe, launched to a height of 70,700 miles.

  • Luna 1, first man made satellite to orbit the moon

    Luna 1, first man-made satellite to orbit the moon, is launched by the U.S.S.R.

  • Pioneer 4 is launched

    Pioneer 4, fourth U.S.-IGY space probe was launched by a Juno II rocket, and achieved an earth-moon trajectory, passing within 37,000 miles of the moon. It then fell into a solar orbit, becoming the first U.S. sun orbiter.

  • Luna 2 is launched

    Luna 2 is launched, impacting on the moon on September 13 carrying a copy of the Soviet coat of arms, and becoming the first man-made object to hit the moon.

  • Luna 3 translunar satellite is launched

    Luna 3 translunar satellite is launched, orbiting the moon and photographing 70 percent of the far side of the moon.

  • Tiros 1 the first successful weather satellite is launched

    Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched by the U.S.

  • Discoverer XIV launches first U.S. camera equipped spy satellite

    Discoverer XIV launches the first U.S. camera-equipped Corona spy satellite.

  • Vostok 1 is launched by the U.S.S.R

    Vostok 1 is launched by the U.S.S.R., carrying Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gargarin, the first man in space. He orbits the Earth once.

  • Mercury Freedom 7 carries first american astranaut into space

    Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. Shepard,Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a suborbital flight.