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Space Race Timeline

  • USSR Sends First Satellite in Space

    USSR Sends First Satellite in Space
    The Sputnik-1 was the first satellite ever launched in space and was a huge scientific advancement. Although it was an achievement for the USSR it was a scare for the US, who had thought they were falling behind in technological advancements.
  • USSR Sends the First Animal in Space

    USSR Sends the First Animal in Space
    The USSR was ahead in technological advancements regarding space. On November 3, 1957 the USSR spend the first animal in space, which was a dog named Laika.
  • First US Satellite in Space

    First US Satellite in Space
    The US was determined to catch up to the USSR in the space race, so they created Explorer-1 and sent the satellite up to space on January 31, 1958 and became the first successfully launched satellite by the US.
  • NASA

    NASA
    NASA was created July 29, 1958 in response to the launch of Sputnik-1. NASA also known as National Aeronautics and Space Administration would grow to find thousands of life changing discoveries in space.
  • Ham, The Chimp

    Ham, The Chimp
    On January 31, 1961, Ham, the chimp was sent in space to test if it was safe for astronauts. It was successful and Ham became the first living animal in space.
  • First Man in Space

    First Man in Space
    At this point the USSR was ahead in the space race when they sent the first man in space. On April 12, 1961 the USSR sent Yuri Gagarin(27) into space on Vostok-1. He was known as the first man in space and to orbit Earth.
  • USA Sends Their First Man Into Space

    USA Sends Their First Man Into Space
    Determined to catch up in the space race, NASA had finally had all the support and technology to send their first man in space, HIs name was Alan B. Shepard.
  • JFK's Moon Speech

    JFK's Moon Speech
    On May 25,1961 JFK announced that their decade goal was to put a man on the moon. It was a very big goal considering NASA had yet to put a man in space, but it gave everyone determination and hope for new space discoveries.
  • First Man to Orbit Earth by USA

    First Man to Orbit Earth by USA
    On February 20,1962 at 9:47 am John Glenn set off for full orbital flight on Friendship-7. There were some problems in space that with the rocket that the control system malfunctioned, but John managed to make it back home safely.
  • USSR Sends First Man To Do EVA

    USSR Sends First Man To Do EVA
    On March 18,1965 the USSR sent the first man ever to do an EVA, otherwise known as extravehicular activity. Alexie Leonov emerged from Voskhod-2 and floated in space for approx. 12 minutes. There was one problem though his body temperature had risen during his time out of the spacecraft which could've ended badly but didn't.
  • Gemini 3

    Gemini 3
    On March 23, 1965 The Gemini 3 mission became the first mission to carry more than one astronaut. The crew consisted of 2 astronauts their names were Gus Grissom and John Young.
  • First US Man To Do an EVA

    First US Man To Do an EVA
    On June 03, 1965, Gemini 4 mission carried James McDivitt and Ed white went up into space. During their 4 day period in space Ed White made history becoming the first US man to do an EVA in space. His spacewalk lasted about 23 minutes.
  • Gemini 7

    Gemini 7
    Gemini 7 consisted of 2 astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman. The mission was 14 days long and allowed scientists to gather information and data of how long periods of time in space can affect the astronauts. It was one of the important gemini missions because it provided a lot of necessary data needed for the future Apollo missions.
  • Original Gemini 9 Crew Lost in Fatal Plane Crash

    Original Gemini 9 Crew Lost in Fatal Plane Crash
    Astronauts Charles Bassett and Elliot See were set to travel on Gemini 9. On February 28, 1966 Bassett and See were on their way to St. Louis for simulator training. Due to the current weather conditions the plane crashed in a construction yard exploding on impact. See and Bassett immediately died upon impact.
  • Gemini 8

    Gemini 8
    Gemini 8 launched on March 16, 1966 at 10:24 am eastern standard time. Aboard was Neil Armstrong and David Scott who would help Gemini 8 become the first mission ever to successfully dock with a lunar module. This advancement was vital to future apollo missions.
  • 3 Astronauts Die During Training

    3 Astronauts Die During Training
    Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee tragically died in a flask fire during training. On January 27, 1967 Grissom, White, and Chaffee were training for the first Apollo mission when a fire started in the command module due to damaged wiring.
  • Apollo 7

    Apollo 7
    On October 11, 1968 astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walter Cunningham set about on Apollo 7, the first crewed Apollo Mission. They spent 11 days up in space testing for future Apollo Missions and in the end was a success.
  • Apollo 8

    Apollo 8
    Apollo 8 was the first mission ever to orbit around the moon. On December 21, 1968 astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders set about on Apollo 8 and successfully completed 10 lunar orbits. They returned home 6 days later.
  • Apollo 9

    Apollo 9
    Apollo 9 launched March 9, 1969. Aboard were astronauts James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart. They helped the command service module and lunar module dock in space for the first time ever.
  • Apollo 10

    Apollo 10
    On May 18, 1969 Apollo 10 set off to help prepare the next Apollo mission which would be the first mission to help astronauts land on the moon. Aboard Apollo 10 were astronauts John Young, Thomas Stafford, and Eugene Cernan. By recreating the process of preparing to land on the moon except the part of landing on the moon, helped Apollo 11 become a successful mission.
  • Apollo 11: First Man To Land On Moon

    Apollo 11: First Man To Land On Moon
    The Apollo 11 mission became one of the most important milestones in mankind. On July 16, 1969 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins set off to land on the moon. 4 days later in their journey Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to ever set foot on the Moon. This mission allowed a major advancement in the world of science and a huge lead in the Space race.