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Soviets launched sputnik. The US feared if they can launch Sputnik they might have the technology to launch nuclear bombs
http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ -
Sputnik 2 was launched with a dog in it this proved humans could go into space and live with the right equipment
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1957-002ACC -
The US launched exploror. This is important because it showed that the USA could launch nuclear weapons too.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/explorer-overview.html -
NASA was created. This is important because the US wouldnt have been able to launch stelites or go on the moon without NASA.
http://history.nasa.gov/factsheet.htm -
The Soviets launched the firts human in space and orbited Earth. This is important because the Soviets were way ahead in the Space Race.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/sts1/gagarin_anniversary.html -
Alan shepard went to space. This is important because he was the first american in space.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-american-in-space -
The apollo program began. This is important because it started the mission to go on the moon and the US wouldnt have been on the moon without the Apollo project.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-was-apollo-program-58.html -
The first American to orbit Earth. This is important because it caught the USA up in the space race.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/mercury_mission.html -
Surveyor landed on the moon. This is important because it didnt sink in so it proved that the moon had a rocky surface and that humans could stand on it.
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1966-045A -
Armstrong stepped on the moon. This is important because the US won the space race and we learned alot about the moon and the Soviets never did anything to do with space ever again.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
