space timeline of exploration By mikestayfreshplease Oct 4, 1957 soviet Russia , sent first satellite called Sputnike into space soviet Russia , sent first satellite called Sputnike into space Nov 3, 1957 Laika , was the first mammal ever to be sent into space by Russia Oct 7, 1958 Project Mercury began. Apr 12, 1961 first man sent into space was Yuri Gargarin (Russia) May 5, 1961 Alan B Shepard was sent by the U.S and he was the first man (from America) to be sent into space Feb 20, 1962 John H. Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth . (U..S.A) Mar 1, 1962 Project Gemini began (U.S.A) May 25, 1962 Apollo space program began (U.S.A) Jun 16, 1963 Valentina Tereshkova was the first women ever to be in space !(U.S.A) Jul 21, 1969 The first man sent to the moon was Neil Armstrong of the U.S.A Apr 11, 1970 Nasa Launched Apollo 13 and we were devistated by something went wrong and there was anexplosion in launch May 9, 1977 Launch of Voyager -1 Aug 20, 1977 Launch of Voyager -2 Apr 12, 1981 First space shuttle mission STS-1 Oct 30, 2012 U.S.A sent Curiosity to Mars