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Sputnik 1 (First Launch)
The Soviet Union, or USSR, launches Sputnik 1, the first human made object to orbit the Earth. This begins the "space war" with the United States. The launch helped with the research of the atmosphere, completed an orbit in 96.2 minutes, and remained in space until January 4, 1958. -
Sputnik 2
USSR launches Sputnik 2 and carried the first animal to ever be taken into space, Laika. Laika died shortly after entering space from stress and overheating. Sputnik 2 remained in orbit until April 13, 1958. -
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 was the first U.S. satellite put into earth's orbit. It was launched after the Soviet's Sputnik 1 and 2. The satellite remained in orbit for twelve years and was responsible for the discovery of the Van Allen (Earth's) radiation belt. It was also the first of the 90 Explorer spacecraft series. -
NASA was Formed
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formed by the United States during the space race and replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). NASA controls all missions and launches to outer space. -
Discoverer XIV Launched
The Discoverer 14 was the first satellite into space. This satellite was successfully launched by the United States. -
Discoverer XIV Launched
Yuri Gagarin is the first man in space. He was sent by the Russians on the Vostok 1 space craft. He became the soviet hero and this advanced the Russians in the space race. He orbited the Earth once (108 minutes). -
First American in Space
Succeeding the Russian's advancement, the United States sent Alan Shepard into space. He became the first American in space and was on board in a capsule called Mercury Freedom 7. He traveled for 15 minutes. -
First (Russian) Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman sent into space by the USSR on a spacecraft named Vostok 6. -
First Spacewalk
USSR sends out Voskhod 2 and Aleksei Leonov becomes the first man out in actual space. He was outside the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds. Upon trying to get back inside the spacecraft, his suit became inflated and barely made it back. -
First American Spacewalk
Ed White was the first American to perform a spacewalk while on Gemini 4 while Jim McDivitt remains in the capsule. He was in space for 23 minutes. -
Luna 9
Luna 9, was a space probe belonging to the Soviet Space Program within the Luna Program. The probe was launched on January 31, 1966 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union. The probe successfully landed on February 3 of the same year in the Ocean of Storms -
Soyuz I
Soyuz 1 was the first manned flight of a new series of spacecraft from the Soviet Union. Launched on April 23, 1967 with a single crew member, Colonel Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov, who died when the ship crashed on its way back to Earth. -
Apollo 8
Apollo 8 was the second manned mission of the United States Apollo space program. The mission began on December 21, 1968, and was the first manned mission to leave Earth orbit, reach and orbit the Moon, and finally return to Earth. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first flight that took men to the moon and was a project of the United States. This was a great achievement because the US had reached the moon before the Soviets.Apollo 11 was the fifth manned mission in the United States Apollo Program and the first in history to land a human on the Moon. -
Apollo 17's Return from the Moon
After 75 hours, or three days, on the lunar surface, the Apollo 17 crew returned home. Eugene Cernan is hailed as the last man on the moon because he climbed into the LM after Schmitt, though he and Schmitt were both the last to walk the lunar surface.