Timeline: space exploration timeline

Oct 4, 1957

space race began

This is a rivalry between the Ussr and Nasa. Without the space race most of the space missions wouldn't exist. www.history.com/topics/space-race

Nov 3, 1957

Launch of Sputnik 2, the space dog

Laika was one of the first dogs in space. This made the U.S fall even further behind. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1957-002A

Jan 31, 1958

U.S launched it's own satellite, explorer 1

Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the U.S. The Soviets put their own satellite into space so we had to catch up and put our own satellite into space. https://www.nasa.gov/mission.../explorer/explorer-overview.html

Jul 29, 1958

U.S created nasa

Nasa is a government agency. Nasa enables U.S to start missions in space. www.nasa.gov/exploration/whyweexplore/Why_We_29.html

Apr 12, 1961

Soviets launched first human into space

First humn ever put in space, less than a month later Alan shepard became the first american in space. This event caused the americans to try harder to put an american in space. www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-man-in-space

May 25, 1961

Kennedy challenged the country to put a man on the moon

He presented Nasa with a challenge. His speech jump-started Nasa's Apollo program. history.nasa.gov/moondec.html

Mar 18, 1965

First man in space

He was floating in space for 12 minutes. He was the first man to ever walk in space which gives the Ussr another achievement. www.history.com/this-day-in.../an-american-walks-in-space

May 25, 1968

Zond 5 launched

Returned to Earth 21 Sept., 1968. Zond 5 represented the first successful Soviet circumlunar Earth-return mission.

Dec 21, 1968

Apollo 8 launch

Second manned mission of the Apollo program. They were able to make it to the Lunar Orrbit before the russians. www.space.com/17362-apollo-8.html

Jul 20, 1969

3 american astronauts land on moon

They landed on the moon in the Lunar Module. It was called the Eagle. This made Kennedy's wish come true. www.space.com/16758-apollo-11-first-moon-landing.html