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First Living Things in Space
The first living thhings intentionally sent into space were fruit flies, which traveled along with corn seeds aboard a U.S.-launched V2 rocket in mid July, 1946. The purpose of the experiment was to explore the effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes. Some further V2 missions carried biological samples, including moss. -
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Space Travel
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First Animal in Space
Albert II, a Rhesus Monkey, became the first monkey in space on June 14, 1949, in a U.S.-launched V2, after the failure of the original Albert's mission on ascent. Albert I reached only 30–39 miles altitude; Albert II reached about 83 miles. Albert II died on impact after a parachute failure. Numerous monkeys of several species were flown by the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. Monkeys were implanted with sensors to measure vital signs, and many were under anesthesia during launch. -
First Mouse in Space
On August 31, 1950 the U.S. launched a mouse into space aboard a V2. The U.S. launched several other mice in this decade but the first mouse was the only one which survived. -
First Satellite in Space
History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball, weighed only 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space race between the US and USSR. -
First Dog in Space
Laika, the first dog ever sent to space, rode to orbit in Sputnik II on the 3rd of November, 1957. Laika likely died within hours after launch from overheating, possibly caused by a failure of the central R-7 sustainer to separate from the payload. The true cause and time of her death was not made public until 2002; instead, it was widely reported that she died when her oxygen ran out on day six. -
Formation of NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established on July 29, 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, is the agency responsible for the public space program of the United States of America, funding annually amounting to $16 Billion. It is also responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research. NASA is regarded arguably as the forefront leader of space agencies worldwide. -
First Man in Space
On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. -
First American in Space
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. was an American naval aviator, test pilot, flag officer, and NASA astronaut who on May 5, 1961 became the second person, and the first American, in space. This Mercury flight was designed to enter space, but not to achieve orbit. Ten years later, at age 47 the oldest astronaut in the program, Shepard commanded the Apollo 14 mission, piloting the lander to the most accurate landing of the Apollo missions. He became the fifth person to walk on the moon. -
First Men on the Moon
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight which landed the first humans, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr, on Earth's Moon on July 20, 1969, at 20:17:39 UTC. The United States mission is considered the major accomplishment in the history of space exploration.Launched from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 in Merritt Island, Florida on July 16, and returned on July 24. -
First Space Shuttle is Destroyed
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew members were killed.
