-
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 was the first American satellite put into earth's orbit. It was launched after the Soviets's Sputnik 1 and 2. The satellite remained in orbit until 1970 and was the first to record the Van Allen radiation belt. It was the first of the 90 Explorer spacecraft series. -
NASA Formed
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA was formed by the United States during the space race for more aeronautics and aerospace research. It controls all missions and launches to space. -
Discover XlV Launched
The Discoverer 14 was the first satellite into space by coming of a moving spacecraft in orbit and then reattaching in mid-air. This satellite was successfully launched by the United States, -
First (Russian) Man in Space
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space. He was sent by the Russians on the Vostok 1 space craft. He became the soviet hero and this advanced the Russians in the space race. -
First American in space
Soon after the Russians sent a man in outer space, the United States sent Alan Shepard. He was on board a tiny mercury capsule by the name of Freedom 7. -
First (Russian) Woman in space
ValentinaTereshkova was the first woman in space sent by the Soviets on the Vostok 6 spacecraft. She was on choosen to fly the spacecraft out of 400 other applicants. -
First Spacewalk
Alexy Leonov was the first man out in actual space. The russian mission was suppose to be Vostok 11, but was cancelled and done on Voskhod 2. He was outside the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds Leonov's space suit became inflated when he was trying to get back into the spacecraft. He was able to let some air out and barley make it back. -
First American Spacewalk
Ed White was the first American to complete a spacewalk. He was sent on the mission Gemini4. White was in space for 23 minutes and was over Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first flight that took men to the moon and was a project of the United States. This was a great achievement because the US had reached the moon before the Soviets. -
Apollo 17 Returns from the Moon
Apollo 17 was the last or most recewnt moon landing by the United States. The crew consisted of Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt. The mission took about 12 days and no one has returned to the moon since.
