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Russia Launched the Sputnik 1
The Soviets launched the very first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into orbit. This was the very first satellite that had been put into space. This is a very important event in history, because if the Soviets haden't launched this, then we wouldn't have been scared of them and wanted to build Explorer 1. We were scared of the Soviets, because if they could send a satellite into space, then they could surely be able to launch missiles at us. -
Explorer 1 was Launched by the United States
The United States was very shocked that the Soviets had launched the Sputnik, so they launched their very first satellite into orbit. This is a very important milestone in history, because it was the second, ever, satellite to go into space and take pictures to find out what space looks like. If we hadn't of cared if the Soviets were better with technology than we were, then we might not of known what space looked like until 50 years later or still not know today. -
Luna 3 Orbits the Moon
Luna 3 is launched by the Soviets, orbits the moon, and takes pictures of 70% of the moon's surface. This is an important event in history, because it was the third spacecraft to be launched to the moon and not fail. Luna 3 also was the first to take and bring back pictures of the moon's far side. The pictures weren't very clear, but were eventually made clearer by computer enhancement. -
The Societs Launched the Very First Human into Sapce
Yuri Gargarin was the name of the man that was the very first person, ever, launched into space. Yuri Gargarin orbited around the Earth once, in the Vostok 1. This is an important event in history becasue if the Soviets wouldn't have sent someone into space then we might not have ever sent Alan Shepard into space because we wouldn't have anyone to compete with for the race to send someine into space. -
The U.S.A. Launched the First American into Space
Alan Shepard was the first American to be launched into space. He rode in the Freedom 7, and did not orbit the Earth at all. I think that this is an important milestone for us today because it was the first American to go into space and if we hadn't done it back then, then who knows when we would have ended up doing it and we wouldn't know so much about space today if it wasn't for Alan Shepard going into space that day. -
John F. Kennedy Announces that We Will Be Sending Someone to the Moon
John F. Kennedy anounces, " I believe that this nation should commit itself to acheiving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." He also created a program of space exploration and scientific research (NASA). This is a very imortant event in history, because we wouldn't know very much about the moon and what is on it if we never send anyone there. Also, we wouldn't know much about space and science toady if NASA wasn't created. -
Virgil "Gus" Grissom the Second American in Space is Launched
Aboard the Liberty Bell 7, Gus Grissom launched off as the second American to ever be in space. Although his capsule was only up for fifteen minutes, it made a big impact, because he lived through his capsule popping one of its chutes, filling with water, and sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Luckly, he got out before the capsule dragged him down with it. -
John Glenn, the Third American In Space, Orbits the Earth
John Glenn was the first person to orbit the Earth. He orbited the Earth three times in the Friendship 7. This is a very important breakthrough, because even though he wasn't the first American in space, he was the first to orbit the Earth and he did it three times. -
U.S. Spacecraft Surveyor 1 Landed on the Moon
Surveyor 1 landed on the moon and didn't sink into the surface, proving that the moon's surface is solid and has a rocky surface. This is an inportant event in history, because the knowing that the moon was hard and rocky, we know that it would be safe for humans to land and walk on the moon without sinking into the surface. So landing Surveyor 1 on the moon led to landing the first human on the moon. -
Three American Astronuats Landed on the Moon in Apollo 11
The three American men who rode in the Apollo 11 were: Neil Armstrong (the first man on the moon), Buzz Aldrin (who went with Neil), and Mike Collins (who had to stay on board). This is an important milestone for us, because we exploered the moon and found out a lot about it. If we hadn't done that, then we might not have known what the moon was like, if we could go back, and how to be safe when we go back.
