Space Exploration

The Launching of Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

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The 1st official satellite put in space by the USSR.The US feared the USSR had the technology to deliver a nuclear weapon via the R-7 rocket.

First living thing/dog sent to space

Nov 3, 1957

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USSR sent Sputnik 2 to space with a dog, Laika, who returns alive proving that living things could go to space.

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

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The 1st american satellite to reach orbit and it discovered the Van Allen Radiation Belt.

NASA is formed

Oct 1, 1958

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NASA replaces NACA and the success of NASA is mostly because they used the discoveries of NACA to help them.

Tiros 1

Apr 1, 1960

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The first successful weather satellite.

First man in space

Apr 12, 1961

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The first man in space and the first man to orbit the earth was Yuri Gagarin.

John Glenn orbits Earth

Feb 20, 1962

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John had to be less than a certain weight and height to complete this and he then orbited Earth 3 times.

First space walk

Mar 18, 1965

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Alexei Leonov spends 12 minutes outside his spacecraft and performs the first space walk.

Surveyor 1 lands

Jun 2, 1966

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When Surveyor 1 lands on the moon NASA discovers that the surface of the moon is hard and things can stand or walk on it.

Moon Landing and Walk

Jul 20, 1969

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Armstrong took "one small step for man and one giant;eap for mankind¨ and walked onto the moon.