Major Space Events

By gallagheremmy
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    Space Events

  • Sputnik 1 Launch

    Soviet union launches the sputnik 1.

  • Sputnik 2 launches.

    Sputnik 2 launches, ill fated dog, Laika, on board.

  • United States launches Explorer I

    United States launches Explorer I from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

  • NASA is formed

    NASA is formed after Congress passes the National Aeronautics and Space Act.

  • Fisrt human to travel to space and return safely

    Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to enter space and return safely.

  • Launch of Friendship 7

    Launch of Friendship 7 (also part of the Mercury Project) makes astronaut John Glenn the first American to go into orbit. Total flight time was just shy of five hours.

  • January 27, 1967--Mission AS-204 is struck by tragedy when a flash fire breaks

    --Mission AS-204 is struck by tragedy when a flash fire breaks out during a launch pad test, killing three astronauts: Virgil Grissom, who had participated in Mercury and Gemini flights; Edward White, who conducted NASA's first extravehicular activity; and new astronaut Roger Chaffee.

  • Fisrt test flight of Saturn V Rocket

    First test flight of the Saturn V rocket, which would carry dozens of spacecraft into space in the years to come.

  • first men to walk on the moon.

    Astronauts Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Neil Armstrong become the first men to walk on the moon.

  • First lunar rover

    Firat luna rover Sent by NASA

  • Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space

    Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-7 aboard the space shuttle Challenger.

  • space shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51L) explodes

    First major catastrophe for NASA, when space shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51L) explodes 73 seconds after takeoff with seven crewmembers aboard.