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Sputnick 1
The launching of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union began the space race with the United States. It was the first artifial satellite that was put in to the Earth's orbit. It helped with research of the atmosphere and travels at 18,000 mi per hour and completing an orbit in 96 minutes. -
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Space Race
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Sputnik 2
Sputnik 2 was the second spacecraft launched into Earth's orbit. This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika. -
Sputnik 3
Sputnik 3 was a research satellite to explore the upper atmosphere and near space. Sputnik 3 was suppose to be the first satellite put into space, but due to problems the more simple Sputnik 1 was sent up first. -
Nasa Formed
NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958 replacing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). -
Luna 1
Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna program of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon. -
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was the first human to journey into outer space. He was also the first man to complete an orbit around the earth on April 12. 1961. Vostok 1 was his only spaceflight, but hwas part of the backup crew to the Soyuz 1 mission. -
Alan B Shepard
Shepard was the first american to be in outer space. He was sent up their in a tiny capsule called Freedom 7. -
JFK moon before end of the decade
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade. -
First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space sent by the Soviets on the Vostok 6 spacecraft. -
First American Spacewalk
Ed white became the first American to "walk" in space. White died along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee during a pre-launch test for the first manned Apollo mission. -
Luna 10
Luna 10 was launched toward the moon from an orbiting platform. It entered lunar orbit on April 3, 1966 and completed its first orbit 3 hours later. -
Surveyor 1
The Surveyor probes were the first U.S. spacecraft to land safely on the Moon. The main objectives of the Surveyors were to obtain close-up images of the lunar surface and to determine if the terrain was safe for manned landings. -
Apollo 8
Was the first human spaceflight to orbit the moon. The crew was Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. On christmas eve they read from Genesis during a television broadcast. -
Apollo 11
On this mission, Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the lunar surface and spent 2½ hours exploring while Michael Collins remained in orbit in the Command Module. For his spaceflights, Armstrong received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. -
Apollo 17's return from the moon
Apollo 17 was the last mission any man has stepped onto the moon. The crew was made up of Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt. The Crew returned to earth on December 19, 1972 after a 12 day mission.
