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USSR launches Sputnik 1
The launching of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union began the "space war" with the United States. It was the first artifial satellite that was put in to the Earth's orbit. -
USSR launches Sputnik 2
Sputnik 2 contained Laika (the first dog in space). -
The US launches Explorer 1
It is the first American satellite to reach orbit. It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt. -
The US launches Explorer 2
Unfortunately, it fails to reach orbit. -
US launches the Vanguard 1
It continues to function for 3 years. -
USSR launches Sputnik 3
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NASA is formed
It replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). -
U.S launches Pioneer 1
It reaches a height of 70,000 miles. -
USSR sends Luna 1 to space
It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun. -
America launches pioneer 4.
Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit. -
Russia launches Luna 2
It impacts the Moon on September 13, becoming the first man-made object to do so. -
Discoverer 14 is launched by the US
America's first camera equipped spy satellite.The Discoverer 14 was the first satelitte into space by coming of a moving spacecraft in orbit and then reattching in mid-air. -
Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space
He was sent by the Russians on the Vostok 1. He advanced the Russians in the space race. -
Alan Shepard becomes the first American man in space
He was on board a tiny mercury capsule by the name of Freedom 7. -
Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.
Tereshkova was the first woman in space sent by the Soviets on the Vostok 6 spacecraft. -
First Spacewalk
Alexey Leonov was the first man out in actual space. This russian mission was done on Voskhod 2. He was outside the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds. -
Russia launches Luna 9
Luna 9 was the first space craft to have a soft lunar landing. Luna 9 took pictures of the surface of the moon. -
Russia launches Luna 10
Luna 10 was the first spacecraft to orbit the moon. After the spacecraft went into orbit, the satellite separted but stayed close by. -
3 US astronauts are killed when Apollo 1 ignites.
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed when a fire ignites in the Apollo 1 capsule. They were performing a test on the launch pad. -
Russia launches Soyuz 1
Soyuz 1 was a manned spacecraft holding Vladimir Komarov. It was the first of the Soyuz series. On its return back to Earth, it crashed and killed Vladimir. It was the first fatal space flight. -
US launches Apollo 8
Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. It was a three man crew containing Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. The mission took three days and took 10 orbits in 20 hours. -
The US lands 3 astronauts on the moon
Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the Moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone. The misssion was called Apollo 11.
