Space Race (first 20 events) By Kaylee A. Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik 1 was launched (USSR) Nov 3, 1957 First animal in orbit (dog Laika) (USSR) Jan 31, 1958 First US satellite, detection of Van Allen radiation belts (US) Mar 17, 1958 First solar powered satellite (US) Dec 18, 1958 First communications satellite(US) Jan 2, 1959 First lunar spacecraft(USSR) Jan 4, 1959 First man- made space craft in orbit(USSR) Feb 17, 1960 First weather satellite(US) Apr 12, 1961 Vostok 1 was launched, carrying cosmonaut Yuri Gargain, the first man in space May 5, 1961 Mercury Freedom 7 carried Alan Shepard, first U.S. astronaut in space Feb 20, 1962 Mercury Friendship 7 took off with John Glenn, Jr. the first American in orbit May 24, 1962 Mercury Aurora 7 was launched with M. Scott Carpenter Dec 14, 1962 U.S. Mariner 2 flew past Venus Jun 16, 1963 Vostok 6 carried Valentia Tereshkova, the first woman in space(USSR) Jul 31, 1964 U.S. Ranger 7 took the first close-up pics of the Moon Mar 16, 1965 The first space walk was made from Soviet Vostok 2 by Alexei A. Leonov Jun 3, 1965 Edward White made the first U.S. space walk from Gemini 4. Feb 3, 1966 Soviet Luna 9 was the first spacecraft to land on the moon. May 1, 1966 Soviet Venus 3 was launched, becoming the first craft to hit Venus Jun 2, 1966 Surveyor 1 was the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the Moon.
