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- November 3rd 1957, Russian Sputnik 2 was launched into space. The first dog in space, Laika, accompanied it.
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The 31 pound USAF Explorer is launched into space in 1958. It was America’s first successful satellite.
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The Russian Luna 2, in 1959, was the 1st spaceship on the moon. Unfortunately it crash landed.
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- In 1960 the first weather satellite was launched. It was named Tiros 1.
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Also launched in 1960 was the Echo 1. It was the first Comm. Satellite.
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Sputnik 5 was also launched in 1960. It carried the 1st dogs, Strelka and Belka, to be returned to earth safely.
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The first Venus probe, USSR Venera 1, was launched in 1961. Contact was soon lost
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In 1962 the Anna 1 B was launched. It was the worlds first geodetic satellite.
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In 1963 the first maneuverable satellite was sent into orbit. The USSR had launched the Polyot 1.
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1963 is also known for being the year the first women went into space. Valentina Tereshkova Nikolayeva went for the USSR.
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In 1964 the 1st 3 man spacecraft was successfully launched by the USSR. It was named Voskod 1.
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The 1st space walk occurred in 1965. It was done by Leonov of the USSR
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In 1967 the first chemical analysis of lunar soil was conducted. The soil was retrieved by Surveyor 5.
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In 1968 the 1st manned flight around the moon was conducted. The Apollo 8 of the US accomplished this.
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In 1975 the USSR launched the Venera 9. On October 22nd it land on Venus and transmitted the first pictures of another planet.
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In 1982 the US Columbia made a record breaking 3rd flight in space. It landed after an 8 day mission.
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In 1985 the US made a first for space travel. A US probe reached a comet.
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In 1986 the US had another first. A US probe reached Uranus for the 1st time.
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In 1988 the longest manned space flight took place. It was accomplished by two cosmonauts from the USSR.
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In 1989 the first probe to reach Neptune got there. It was the Voyager 2 sent by the US.