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A timeline of the Space Race which took place from the late 50's until 1969
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The Sputnik 1 was the very first satellite in space which was launched by the USSR on October 4th, 1957. This satellite marked the beginning of the Space Race. (Sputnik 1 - nasa.gov) -
Laika the Space Dog was the first ever animal to orbit the Earth. She was launched into space in the Sputnik 2 on November 3rd, 1957 but died four days afterward due to the cabin overheating. The Sputnik 2 fell back to earth in April of 1958. (The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the Space Dog, and Her One-Way Trip into Orbit - smithsonianmag.com) -
The Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to orbit the Earth. It was launched on January 31st, 1958, and then re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up about twelve years later on March 31st, 1970. (Explorer 1 Overview - nasa.gov) -
Ham the Chimp (a three year old chimpanzee) was the first animal that the US launched into space. He was launched in a Mercury Redstone at Cape Canaveral on January 31st, 1961 and his mission was a success. (Chimpanzee Ham with Trainers - nasa.gov) -
Yuri Gagarin was the very first human to enter space and orbit the Earth. He began his mission on April 12th, 1961 and completed one full orbit in the Vostok 1. (Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space - nasa.gov) -
Alan was the first American to enter space, second only to the USSR’s Yuri Gagarin. He entered space in a Mercury spacecraft (which he named the “Freedom 7”) on May 5th, 1961. Unlike Yuri Gagarin, he did not orbit the Earth, but instead flew 116 miles high before returning. (Who Was Alan Shepard? - nasa.gov) -
The Gemini Program was NASA's early human spaceflight program which helped to prepare for the moon landing. This programmed spanned from March of 1965 and ended on November 11th, 1966. Missions included Gemini 3, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6A, Gemini 7, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 10, Gemini 11, and finally Gemini 12. (What Was the Gemini Program? - nasa.gov) -
The Apollo 1 was the very first crewed space program planned by the US, coming about two years before the moon landing. It was supposed to begin February 21st, 1967 and last 14 days, but a fire broke out in the cabin on January 27th which killed three crew members. The tragedy almost ended the US's spaceflight program. (Apollo 1 - wikipedia.org)
(Apollo 1 - nasa.gov) -
Apollo 11 was the mission that landed the US on the moon July 20th, 1969, securing its victory in the Space Race. Crew members were Commander Neil Armstrong, Commander Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edward Aldrin. (Apollo 11 Mission Overview - nasa.gov)
(Apollo 11 - wikipedia.org)
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