Space Exploration By savannahwilliams1999 Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik the 1st artificial satellite launched by USSR Nov 3, 1957 Laika the 1st mammal sent into orbit around Earth by USSR Nov 23, 1959 Mercury Program begins by the US Apr 12, 1961 1st man sent into space was Yuri Gagarin by USSR Nov 23, 1961 Alan Shepard was the 1st US astronaut in space by US Nov 23, 1962 Gemini Space Program Began by US Nov 23, 1962 John Glenn Jr. 1st US astronaut to orbit Earth by the US Nov 23, 1963 Valentina Tereshkova 1st woman in space by USSR Nov 23, 1963 Apollo Program Began by US Feb 3, 1966 Luna 9 1st US Moon Probe landed by Soviet Union Nov 23, 1969 Neil Armstrong 1st man on the Moon by US Nov 23, 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 launched Nov 23, 1981 Columbia 1st Space Shuttle Mission by US Jun 18, 1983 Sally Ride 1st US woman in space by USA
