Space events by Brian Burke By LastminuteBurke Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik 1 launched (first artificial satelite launched) Russia Period: Oct 4, 1957 to Jan 1, 1985 timeline Nov 3, 1957 Laika spacedog Russia Nov 3, 1957 Sputnick 2 launched Russia Aug 21, 1959 Mercury Program US Apr 13, 1961 Yuri Gagarin (first man in space) Russia May 5, 1961 First U.S. astronaut in space (Alan Sheperd) US Feb 20, 1962 First US astronaut to orbit Earth (John Glenn) US Jan 1, 1963 Project Apollo US Jun 16, 1963 First woman in space (Valentina Vladimirovna) Russia Apr 26, 1964 Gemini Project US Jul 21, 1969 Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong on moon US Feb 1, 1970 First Spacestation lanched (Noteworthy) US Apr 12, 1981 First space shuttle mission, STS- 1 US Jan 26, 1986 Challenger shuttle explodes (noteworthy) US
