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Sputnik 1
The first man-made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958. -
Period: to
Space Race
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Sputnick 2
USSR launches Sputnik 2 which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit. This was the first animal to reach outter space. Sputnik 2 remained in space until January 4, 1958. -
Explorer 1
Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt. -
Vanguard 1
The Vanguard 1 satellite is launched. It continues to function for 3 years. -
N.A.S.A.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed, it replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). -
Luna 1
Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. It is the first man-made object to orbit the Sun. -
Luna 3
Soviets Luna 3, translunar satellite is launched, orbiting the moon and photographing 70 percent of the far side of the moon -
Tiros 1
Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched by the U.S. -
Discoverer XIV
The U.S. launches Discoverer XIV. It is the first camera-equipped by Corona spy satellite. -
President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States. -
First Man in Space
Vostok 1 is launched by the U.S.S.R., carrying Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin, the first man in space. He orbits the Earth once. -
First U.S. Astronaut into space
Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. Shepard,Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a suborbital flight. -
Moon Planning
President John F. Kennedy addresses Congress and challenges the nation to go to the Moon before the end of the decade. -
John Glenn
Mercury Friendship 7 lifts off with John H. Glenn, Jr., the first American in orbit, and orbits the Earth three times. -
First Woman in Space
Vostok 6 carries Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and orbits the Earth 48 times -
The first spacewalk
The first spacewalk is made from Soviet Voskhod 2 by Cosmonaut Alexei A. Leonov. Duration is 12 minutes. -
Ranger 9
Ranger 9 transmits high-quality images of the moon, many of which were shown live in the first television spectacular about the moon. -
First U.S. space walk
Edward White II makes the first U.S. space walk from Gemini 4. Jim McDivitt remains in the Gemini capsule. Duration is 22 minutes. -
Venus 3
Soviet Venus 3 is launched, becoming the first man-made craft to impact Venus on March 1, 1966. -
Luna 10
Soviets launch Luna 10 which becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon. -
Lunar Orbiter 1
U.S. Lunar Orbiter 1 enters moon orbit, and takes the first picture of the Earth from the distance of the moon. -
Venera 4
Soviets send Venera 4 into Venus's atmosphere, and returning data about its composition. -
Apollo 8
Apollo 8 is launched with Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr. and William A. Anders, the first Apollo to use the Saturn V rocket, and the first manned spacecraft to orbit the Moon, making 10 orbits on its 6-day mission.On Christmas Eve they take turns reading Genesis in a broadcast heard around the world. -
Apollo 11
Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the Moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone using Apollo 11. -
First precision lunar landing
Pete Conrad and Alan Bean perform the first precision lunar landing, touching down just 600 feet from the Surveyor 3 probe that arrived two years earlier.
