-
Sputnik 1
The Sputnik 1 spacecraft was the first artificial satellite successfully placed in orbit around the Earth and was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome at Tyuratam in Kazakhstan, then part of the former Soviet Union.
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1957-001B -
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the United States. it followed the launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 on October 4,1957. Explorer 1 revolved around Earth in a looping orbit that took it as close as 354 kilometers (220 miles) to Earth and as far as 2,515 kilometers (1,563 miles). -
Luna 1
Also known as Mechta. Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to reach the Moon. Luna 1 was the first man-made object to reach the moon on January 2, 1959. -
Ham the Astrochimp
He was a chimp and the first hominid launched into space. He was the first primate in space. Opened the way for human exploration. He was two years old when launched into space. Ham blasted off from Cape Canaveral and traveled 157 miles in a Mercury capsule before splashing down in the Atlantic ocean. The trip took 16.5 minutes in all -
Yuri Gagarin
He was a Russian Soviet Pilot and Cosmonaut. He was the first human to to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on 12 April 1961. Yuri Gagarin was born near Moscow, Russia on March 9, 1934. He died on March 27, 1968. Yuri joined the Soviet Air Force in 1955. By 1959, he was training to become a cosmonaut. -
Alan Shepard
Born and died(November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998). He was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman. He was the first American to be launched into space. -
John Glenn
He was a United States marine corps aviator. He was born in Ohio, In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. He spent about five hours in space. Born on July 18, 1921. Died in Columbus, Ohio on December 8,2016. -
Gemini 1
It was the first unmanned test flight of the Gemini spacecraft. The Gemini program was designed as a bridge between the Mercury and Apollo programs. The main objectives of Gemini 1 were to test the structural integrity of the new spacecraft and the Titan-2-GLV launch vehicle. Another objective was to test the new tracking and communication systems for the Gemini program and provide training for the ground support crews for the first manned missions. Launched from Apr 8, 1964 – Apr 12, 1964 -
Gemini 2
Gemini 2 was the second spaceflight of the American human spaceflight program Project Gemini. Launched January 19, 1965. It took place over 50 years ago recently(fun fact). Second part of the Gemini Program. -
Apollo 1
Tragedy struck on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy during a preflight test for Apollo 204. The astronauts entered the Apollo at 1:00 p.m., Friday, 27 January 1967. On January 27, 1967, tragedy struck the Apollo program when a flash fire occurred in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. -
Apollo 8
Was a duplicate of the Apollo 1 mission. Apollo 8, the second human spaceflight mission in the United States Apollo space program, was launched on December 21, 1968. Originally planned as a second Lunar Module/Command Module test in an elliptical medium Earth orbit in early 1969 -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon. The mission when they reached the moon. Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin were the two American Astronauts to land on the moon and return safely home.