-
Sputnik
The first artificial Earth satellite. The soviet union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on October 4, 1957.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 -
Laika the Space dog
Became the first animal launched into orbit, paving the way for human spaceflight. Some scientists believed humans would be unable to survive the launch or the conditions of outer space, so engineers viewed flights by animals as a necessary precursor to human missions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika -
Explorer 1
The first satellite of the United States, launched as part of its participation in the international Geophysical Year. Explorer 1 revolved around Earth in a looping orbit that took it as close as 220 miles to Earth and as far as 1,563 miles.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/explorer-overview.html -
Luna 1
The first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Earth's moo, and the first spacecraft to be placed in heliocentric orbit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_1 -
Alan Shepard
An American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman. In 1961 he became the first American to travel into space.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shepard -
Yuri Gagarin
He was the first human to journey into outer space when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the earth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin -
Apollo 1
The first manned mission of the United States Apollo program, which had its ultimate goal a manned lunar landing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1 -
Apollo 8
Became the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth orbit, reach the Earth's moon, orbit it and return safely to Earth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8
