Space Race timeline

Sputnik 1 is Launched

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik 1 in the long and short of it; is the initiator of the space race. Launched on October 4th, 1957, the Soviet-made Sputnik 1 is the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth. Weighing at 83.6 kg(184 pounds) it reached a max apogee of 940 km (584 miles) away from the earth and stayed in orbit until January 4th, 1958 where it burned up in the earth's atmosphere. {The Launch of Sputnik}(https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/lw/103729.htm)

Explorer 1 is Launched

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer 1 is the United States response to Sputnik 1 being launched the previous year. The Explorer 1 was the first successful American-made orbital satellite. Launched on January 31, 1958, the American satellite reached earth's orbit and started circling the globe. Orbiting the globe more than 58.000 times it then re-entered orbit on March 31, 1970, and was destroyed upon re-entry. Not only did it circle the earth it got data on radiation belts.
(https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/explorer-1)

Ham the Astrochimp is launched into space

Jan 31, 1961

Months before Alan Shepherd became the first American in space; Ham the astrochimp was the first chimpanzee.Born in 1957 he was sent to Holloman Air Force Base located in New Mexico shortly after; designated number 65 Ham became one of the 40 chimps chosen to undergo training to go into space.Heading into space on a mercury 5 rocket, Hams mission did not go as planned but he returned unharmed. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/mercury-primate-capsule-and-ham-astrochimp

Yuri Gagarin the First Man in Space

Apr 12, 1961

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space of any nationality.Born on March 9, 1934, his career started with him joining a flying club;he later became an airforce fighter pilot and senior lieutenant. One of the 200 airforce pilots considered for the position.Launched on April 12, 1961, in the Vostok 1, the Soviet astronauts orbited the earth once over the course of 108 minutes and parachuted out of the spacecraft due to there being no way to land.
https://www.space.com/16159-first-man-in-space.html

Alan Shepard the First American in Space

May 5, 1961

Born on Nov 18, 1923, Alan Shepard attended the US naval academy and graduated June 7, 1944. His efforts were rewarded with him spending the last year of World war 2 on a destroyer in the middle of the Pacific. In 1959 he received an invitation to participate in NASA's spaceflight program and became a part of the group Mercury 7. He was launched into space on May 5 1961 aboard Freedom 7.
https://www.space.com/17385-alan-shepard-first-american-in-space.html

Gemini Space Walk

Jun 3, 1965

One of the most ambitious flights to take place in US history, the Gemini spacewalk is the first American spacewalk to take place. Done by the crew of Gemini IV, Jim McDivitt and Ed White who was the one to undertake the spacewalk, the spacewalk took place on June 3, 1965. The spacewalk itself only lasted 20 minutes but by the end of its said white was beside himself with joy. Gemini landed 4 days later after its 62nd orbit.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/gemini-iv-learning-to-walk-in-space

The Apollo 1 tragedy

Jan 27, 1967

The first of the Apollo program, the Apollo 1 was the beginning of the line of Apollo spacecraft whose purpose was to make it to the moon. This was not meant to be however when a flash fire occurred in the Apollo command module and killed all personnel inside during a launch rehearsal test at 6:31 p.m. on January. 27,1967.The fire took the lives of Virgil Grissom, Edward White II and Roger BIt and would be remembered as the first on-duty deaths for NASA.
https://www.space.com/17338-apollo-1.html

Apollo 11 the Mission to the Moon

Jul 20, 1969

The Apollo 11 mission took place on July 20, 1969. Its pilots Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin primary objective were to land on another planetary body and be the first to take steps on another celestial body. Launched from Cape Kennedy in the Apollo 11 spacecraft, this was a pivotal moment in NASA history and Armstrong and Aldrin performed spectacularly. They landed on the moon and Armstrong took the first steps on the moon for mankind.
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_11/