Soviet Union Timeline By DavidxD Jan 1, 1957 Soviet Union launches Sputnik Jan 1, 1959 Luna 2 probe reaches the moon Jan 1, 1961 First human orbits Earth (Yuri Gagarin) Jan 1, 1963 First woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova) Jan 1, 1970 Venera 7 lands on venus Jan 1, 1971 First manned space station; Mars 3 drop capsule on Mars Jan 1, 1975 U.S and Soviet Union launch first joint space mission