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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. -
Gus Grissom and John Young became the first crew to fly a Gemini spacecraft. Their mission showed that astronauts could steer and change the path of their spacecraft while in orbit. This was important because future missions needed to be able to move closer to other spacecraft or the Moon. Their successful flight proved that controlled movement in space was possible. -
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. -
James McDivitt and Edward White spent four days in space to see how the human body reacts to longer missions. Edward White also made history by becoming the first American to do a spacewalk. He floated outside the spacecraft using a small gas gun to move himself around. This mission showed that astronauts could work outside their spacecraft and also survive longer periods in space, both important for reaching the Moon. -
Two spacecraft worked together in this important test. Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford flew Gemini 6A, while Frank Borman and James Lovell flew Gemini 7. Their main goal was to practice rendezvous, which means bringing two spacecraft close together in orbit. Gemini 6A approached Gemini 7 until they were only a few feet apart. This proved astronauts could meet up with another spacecraft in space, a skill needed for docking during future Apollo Moon missions. -
Elliot See and Charles Bassett, the original Gemini 9 crew, died in a plane crash while traveling to training. Their deaths showed how dangerous preparing for space missions could be, even on Earth. -
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee were killed when a fire broke out inside their spacecraft during a ground test. This accident led NASA to make major safety changes to the Apollo program, helping protect astronauts on future missions. -
Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders became the first humans to leave Earth orbit and travel to the Moon. It was the first mission to orbit the Moon and take famous photos of Earth from space. -
Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walter Cunningham flew the first crewed Apollo mission. It was known for being the first successful test of the redesigned Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit. -
James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart tested the Lunar Module in space for the first time. They also completed the first Apollo spacewalk and first docking and re-docking of the Apollo spacecraft. -
Apollo 10 was the dress rehearsal for the Moon landing. Astronauts Thomas Stafford, John Young, and Eugene Cernan flew the Lunar Module close to the Moon’s surface but did not land. It tested all the steps needed for Apollo 11. -
Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins flew the mission. Armstrong and Aldrin became the first people to walk on the Moon.