Space Race timeline By 97jpudney Oct 4, 1957 USSR launches Sputnik 1. May 15, 1958 Sputnik 3 is launched Jan 2, 1959 Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun. Nov 8, 1960 John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States. Apr 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space. Feb 20, 1962 John Glenn orbits the Earth three times. Nov 22, 1963 President Kennedy is assassinated. Oct 31, 1964 Astronaut Theodore Freeman dies in a plane crash. Jul 14, 1965 Mariner 4 returns close ranger images of Mars. Apr 3, 1966 Luna 10 becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon. Oct 5, 1967 Astronaut Clifton Williams is killed in a plane crash. Oct 11, 1968 The crew of Apollo 7 begin a 10 day mission to study the new spacecraft. Jul 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the Moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone.