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Start of the Space Race
In 1955, thanks to the large amount of scientific advances that had been made during the 20th century, the US and the Soviet Union declared that they were looking forward to sent artificial satellites to the space, which led to the Space Race. -
Development of the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
In 1957, the Soviet Union developed the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). The missile was known as the R-7 Semyorka, it was 28 m long, it weight 5500 kg, and had a diameter of 2,95 m. It was designed by Serguéi Koroilov, an Ucranian engineer. The US soon copied the R-7 Semyorka, and developed their own ICBMs. -
First Soviet artificial satellite
The Soviet Union, using the plans of the R-7 Semyorka, developed the first artificial satellite, known as Sputnik 1. It weight only 88 kg, and had the size of a basketball. It mission was to start some astronomical studies, and it was designed by Serguéi Koroliov. -
First animal in space
The Soviet Union had developed the Sputnik 2, which was a spaceship designed with the plans of the Sputnik 1. It was used to send a dog known as Laika to the space. The mission was completed, since they managed to sent the animal to the space, but it died due to the lack of oxygen. -
First US artificial satellite
In 1958, the NASA developed the Explorer 1, which was the first US artificial satellite sent to the space. It started a big number of studies, and discovered Van Allen Belts. It was designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. -
First satellite powered by solar energy
On May 1958, the NASA put into orbit the Vanguard 1. It was the first satellite powered by solar energy, and it supposed a big win for the US in the space race. Nikita Jrushchov criticized the satellite, stating that the Sputniks were much better machines. However, both Sputniks went out of orbit, and were burned in their way back to the Earth. On the other hand, the Vanguard 1 is still in orbit, and it is the oldest artificial satellite in space. -
First communications satellite
In 1958, the NASA put into orbit the SCORE. It was the first telecommunications satellite in space, and was a significant win for the US in the space race. The system of communication could be control by four different US stations. The first message that was recorded and broadcasted with the SCORE was a Christmas message from President Eisenhower. -
First wave to hit the moon.
The Soviet Union launched a wave, which was the first one to hit the moon. It was sent from the the Luna 2, which had been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This satellite received that name because of its predecessor, the Luna 1, which was the first satellite to get close to the moon. This achievement supposed a great victory for the USSR. -
First image of the dark side of the moon
In 1959, the Soviet satellite Luna 3 took the first image of the dark side of the moon. This satellite was designed by Sergei Korolov. The images were openly criticized by the US, who claimed that they weren't relevant, although this event supposed a big victory for the Soviet Union -
First hominid in space
In 1961, the NASA sent a chimpanzee known as Ham to the space. It became the first hominid to go to the space, and his trip lasted 16 minutes. It was rescued in the middle of the Ocean, where he was found alive. This achievement made both sides of the Space Race to know that it was possible to sent a human to the space. -
First human in space
In 1962, aboard the Vostok 1, Yuri Alekséyevich Gagarin became the first man to go to space. Besides, Yuri was able to return to the Earth alive, thanks to the studies that had been previously tested with a chimpanzee. In addition the Vostok 1 was the first manned rocket in history, so this achievement resulted in a double victory for the USSR. -
First woman in space
In 1963, aboard the Vostok 6, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to go into space. The mission was carried out during 3 days, and she managed to complete 48 laps around the Earth. This event, added to the mission in which Guerman Titov spent more than 24 h in space, made the Soviet Union to take the lead of the Space Race -
First space walk
Aboard the Voskhod 2, Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov became the first human to carry out a space walk. Another astronaut stayed in the spaceship, just in case something went wrong. This man was known as Pavel Belyayev. The walk lasted 12 minutes, and they managed to go back to the Earth, which meant that the mission was successfully achieved. -
Apolo 8
In 1968, the first manned space flight around the moon took place. The mission was known as Apolo 8, and the rocket was manned by Frank Borman, James Lovell and Williams Anders. In addition they were the first humans to see the dark side of the moon. They managed to return to the Earth, which meant that this event supposed a great comeback from the US. -
Apolo 11
In 1969, the mission Apolo 11, carried out by the NASA, took place. The members were: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. These people managed to reach the moon, and were able to land on it. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, Collins stayed in the spaceship. This event was the most important in all the space race, and supposed the greatest US victory. -
First spacial station
The Soviet Union developed the Salyut 1, which was the first spacial station in history. Two manned missions were held to sent humans to the space station. The first one was known as Soyuz 10, which wasn't able to join the station. The second one, known as Soyuz 11, managed to join the station. The members of the mission (Viktor Patsayev, Vladislav Vólkov and Gueorgui Dobrovolski) made a lot of studies during the following days. A valve broke, and they all die due to the lack of oxygen. -
Pioneer 10
In 1973, the Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft which reach Jupiter. It was also the first spacecraft which went through the asteroid belt, and it took some photos of Jupiter. It was sent by the US, and it is still going around Jupiter nowadays. -
Mariner 10
In 1974, the NASA spacecraft Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft which reach Mercury. It took some photos of the planet, and managed to complete a complete lap around it. This spacecraft was the last one of the US program Mariner, which objective was to observe Venus, Mars and Mercury for the first time. -
Attachment of the Apolo 18 and Soyuz spaceships.
In 1975, the US spaceship Apolo 18 and the Soviet spaceship Soyuz joined together. This event was the first mission in which both sided worked together, and meant the end of the Space Race, although during the following years, both countries continued making advances. -
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Advances after the Space Race
After the attachment of the Apolo 18 and Soyuz, both countries continued working on space affairs. For example, the US developed the first space shuttle (Columbia), while the Soviet Union carried out the first woman space walk (Svetlana Savitskaya), and were able to maintain two astronauts in space for more than a year (Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov).