Space Race Timeline

By danalynng
  • Sputnik 1

    Sputnik 1

    The USSR launched the first satellite into space, beating the United States.
  • First animal launched into space (USSR)

    First animal launched into space (USSR)

    Laika was the first ever animal to be launched into space with no intent of her being safe.
  • First US satellite

    First US satellite

    The explorer 1 was the first satellite to be launched by the US and started the Cold War between the USSR and the US
  • Creation of NASA

    Creation of NASA

    NASA or The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created to help the US beat the soviets in the space race.
  • First animal launched into space (USA)

    First animal launched into space (USA)

    Ham the chimp was the first animal launched into space by the US and came home safely.
  • First man in space (USSR)

    First man in space (USSR)

    Yuri Gagarin was the first man to be sent into space by the USSR. He was in the Vostok capsule 1.
  • First man to go into orbit (USSR)

    First man to go into orbit (USSR)

    Yuri Gagarin was also the first Soviet to orbit the earth.
  • First man in space (USA)

    First man in space (USA)

    Alan Shepard was the first US man to reach sub orbital flight on the Freedom 7
  • JFK's commitment to going to space

    JFK's commitment to going to space

    JFK needed to commit to going to space so they could beat the USSR in the "Space Race".
  • First man to go into orbit (USA)

    First man to go into orbit (USA)

    John Glen was the first American to orbit the Earth.
  • Gemini 8- dual docking

    Gemini 8- dual docking

    First ever dual launch and docking
  • First cosmonaut to do an EVA (USSR)

    First cosmonaut to do an EVA (USSR)

    Alexei Leonov was the first cosmonaut to do an EVA and spent 12 minutes outside of his space craft.
  • First astronaut to do an EVA (USA)

    First astronaut to do an EVA (USA)

    Ed White was the first astronaut to do an EVA
  • Gemini 6 - First rendezvous

    Gemini 6 - First rendezvous

    First rendezvous with another space craft.
  • Gemini honourable mentions

    Gemini honourable mentions

    Elliot See and Charles basset passed away during a plane crash on their way to the training facility.
  • Apollo 1

    Apollo 1

    Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee were all aboard a test flight when the cabin had caught fire killing all three of them.
  • Apollo 7

    Apollo 7

    First manned three man flight with astronauts

    Walter M. Schirra
    Donn F. Eisele
    R. Walter Cunningham
  • Apollo 8

    Apollo 8

    First circumlunar flight where they got out of low Earth orbit

    Frank F. Borman II
    James A. Lovell Jr.
    William A. Anders
  • Apollo 9

    Apollo 9

    First EVA tested

    James A. McDivitt
    David R. Scott
    Russell L. Schweickart
  • Apollo 11

    Apollo 11

    First landing on the sea of tranquility

    Neil A. Armstrong
    Michael Collins
    Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.