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Space Race Timeline

By alebond
  • Period: to

    From Sputnik to Apollo 17

  • Sputnik II and the First Animal in Space

    Sputnik II and the First Animal in Space
    The Soviet Union launched Sputnik II carrying a dog, Laika into orbit. Unfortunately, they had no way of bringing the dog back.

  • Explorer One is launced

    Explorer One is launced
    The first of a series of launches, the Explorer was the first American satellite put into orbit. The Explorer was also the first to record the Van Allen Radiation Belts.

  • NASA is formed

    NASA is formed
    The United States' second official Space agency is formed. NASA would become responsible for several flights to the moon, and several other historic events.

  • Luna 1 is launched

    Luna 1 is launched
    The USSR launches the Luna 1, the first man-made object to orbit the sun.

  • First Man in Space

    First Man in Space
    Yuri Gagarin, a Russian, became the first man to ever enter Space. He orbited Earth for a little more than an hour, and was promoted to Major during his flight.

  • First American in Space

    First American in Space
    Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in Space.

  • Kennedy Wants Moon Landing

    Kennedy Wants Moon Landing
    President Kennedy delivers one of his more famous speeches, and challenges the nation to achieve moon landing by the end of the decade.

  • First Woman in Space

    First Woman in Space
    Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman, Russian, in Space.

  • First Spacewalk

    First Spacewalk
    Aleksei Leonov, Russian, performed the first "space walk". He was outside of the capsule for 12 minutes, and then had an oxygen problem with his suit. He was able to release some oxygen and just barely make it back inside his capsule.

  • First Gemini Spacecraft Launched

    First Gemini Spacecraft Launched
    Manned by Gus Grissom and John Young the first of the Gemini projects is launched into Space.

  • America's First Spacewalk

    America's First Spacewalk
    Ed White performs America's first spacewalk.

  • First Space Rendevous

    First Space Rendevous
    The Gemini 6, manned by Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, manages to successfully rendevous with spacecraft Gemini 7.

  • Luna 10

    Luna 10
    The Soviet's Luna Ten becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon.

  • Apollo 11

    Apollo 11
    Manned by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren, Apollo 11 was the United States' most successful flight ever. Both astronauts managed to actually walk on the moon, and make it home safely.