Giambra, Space Race

First animal in space - USA

Feb 20, 1947

Fruit Flies were sent up to test radiation exposure at high altitudes.

First satellite in space - Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

The first ever object to be launched into space and orbit the earth, made by the Soviets.

First animal sent to space - USSR

Nov 3, 1957

Laika the dog was sent in sputnik 2 and orbited the earth, kickstarting the US to start the space program.

First Satellite in space - USA

Jan 31, 1958

The first satellite from the US to be sent to space.

NASA's Founding

Oct 1, 1958

An organization for space research.

First man to space - USSR

Apr 12, 1961

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was the first man to orbit the earth.

First man in space - USA

May 5, 1961

Alan Shepard was the first american man into space, aboard the Freedom 7 Capsule.

JFK's Moon Announcement

May 25, 1961

JFK announces to congress that he wants a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

First man to orbit earth - USA

Feb 20, 1962

John Glenn was the first US man to orbit the earth.

First man to do an EVA - USSR

Mar 18, 1965

Alexei Leonov was the first Soviet cosmonaut to perform a EVA.

First man to do an EVA - USA

Jun 3, 1965

Ed White was the first american to perform an EVA.

Important Event 1

Jun 3, 1965

Ed White, the first spacewalk.

The T-38 crash

Feb 28, 1966

Elliot See and Charles Bassett both killed in the crash.

Important Event 2

Mar 16, 1966

Gemini 7 docked with the agena target vehicle.

Important Event 3

Nov 12, 1966

It was proved that duties could be performed during a spacewalk.

Apollo 7

Oct 11, 1968

First crewed Apollo mission.

Apollo 8

Dec 21, 1968

First mission to orbit the moon. 12/21 - 12/27.

Apollo 9

Mar 3, 1969

Tested the lunar landing module in orbit.

Apollo 10

May 18, 1969

Set the highest speed recorded by a crewed vehicle.

Apollo 11

Jul 24, 1969

First astronauts to land on the moon.