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Space Race Begins
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik -
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Space Race Timeline
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Sputnik 2
USSR launches Sputnik 2 that carries a dog named Laika -
USA Launches Satelite
Explorer 1, the first American satellite to reach orbit, is launched. It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt. -
USA Failed to Launch Second Satelite
Explorer 2 is launced but it fails to reach orbit. -
US Vanguard satelite is Launched
The Vanguard 1 satellite is launched. It continues to function for 3 years. -
Sputnik 3
Sputnik 3 is launched. -
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed, it replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). -
Pioneer 1
Pioneer 1 is launched to a height of 70,700 miles. -
Luna 1
Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun. -
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. -
Mercury Seven
The "Mercury Seven" astronauts are selected by NASA. -
Tiros
Toris 1 the first sucessful weather satellite is launched -
First camera in Space
The US launches Discoverer XIV, its first camera equipped spy satellite. -
First Man in Space
Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space. -
American In Space
Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space. -
Orbiting the Earth
John Glenn orbits the Earth three times. -
Space
L. Gordon Cooper spends 34 hours in space -
First Woman in Space
Cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space. -
Presendent Lincoln
Presidnet Lincoln is killed. -
First Men to Walk on the Moon
Niel Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin are the first men to walk on the moon. Micheal Collins orbits the moon.
