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Sputnik 1 was the first satellite launched into space. It was sent by the Soviet Union in 1957. The satellite was about the size of a beach ball and sent out simple radio signals. Its launch surprised the world and started the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Laika was the first animal to orbit Earth. She was a dog sent into space by the Soviet Union on the Sputnik 2 spacecraft. Laika helped scientists learn how living things react to space travel, even though she did not survive the mission. -
Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched into space by the United States. It helped scientists discover the Van Allen radiation belts around Earth. Its launch showed that the United States was becoming a strong part of the Space Race. -
NASA was created by the United States to lead the country’s space exploration efforts. It was formed to develop spacecraft, support astronauts, and compete in the Space Race. NASA later became responsible for many major space missions, including sending humans to the Moon. -
Ham the chimpanzee was the first chimp sent into space by the United States to perform tasks during the flight. His mission showed that humans could survive and work in space. Ham safely returned to Earth after the flight, proving the spacecraft systems worked well. -
Yuri Gagarin was the first man to travel into space. He orbited the Earth in the Vostok 1 spacecraft. His flight proved that humans could survive in space and made him an international hero. -
Alan Shepard was the first American to travel into space. He flew in the Freedom 7 spacecraft on a short suborbital flight. His mission showed that the United States could send humans into space and was an important step in the Space Race. -
President John F. Kennedy gave a speech to Congress where he committed the United States to landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. His goal inspired the country to work harder in the Space Race and pushed NASA to develop new technology to make the Moon landing possible. -
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. He flew in the Friendship 7 spacecraft and completed three orbits around the planet. His mission proved that the United States could send humans into orbit safely and was a big achievement in the Space Race. -
Alexei Leonov was the first person to perform a spacewalk, also called an Extra-Vehicular Activity . He floated outside his spacecraft, Voskhod 2, and proved that humans could work in space. His spacewalk was a major milestone in space exploration. -
Edward H. White II was the first American to perform a spacewalk, also called an Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA). He floated outside the Gemini 4 spacecraft for about 20 minutes, showing that astronauts could work outside a spacecraft in space.