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Period: to
space race
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The USSR launches sputnik #1.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed, it replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA).
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed, it replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). -
Luna #1 (the first man made object to orbit the Sun) is launched by the USSR.
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Tiros #1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched.
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Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space.
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February 20: John Glenn orbits the Earth three times, becoming the first American in orbit.
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A Russian, Valentina Tereshkova, becomes the first woman in space.
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the first mission to send multiple men into space.
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American astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell fly Gemini 7 for fourteen days, setting an endurance record that will remain unbroken until 1970.
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Americans Neil Armstrong and David Scott couple Gemini 8 to an unmanned Agena vehicle, docking two spacecraft together for the first time
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A fire during routine testing of the Apollo spacecraft kills three astronauts -- Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chafee -- in their capsule
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After extensive redesign work, Apollo 7, commanded by Wally Schirra enters earth orbit in the first test of the spacecraft.
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Apollo 8 completes the first manned orbit of the moon.
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Apollo 11 begins its mission to the moon.