Space timeline (science) By cn19235 Oct 4, 1957 The Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space. Aug 19, 1960 The Soviet craft Sputnik 5 was launched, carrying the dogs Strelka and Belka. They became the first living beings to survive a trip into space. Apr 12, 1961 Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. May 5, 1961 Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space. May 25, 1961 - President Kennedy challenged the country to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Feb 3, 1966 - The Russian spacecraft Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to land on the moon. Jun 2, 1966 - Surveyor 1 became the first American spacecraft to land on the moon. Sep 15, 1968 - The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 was launched and later became the first spacecraft to orbit the moon and return to Earth. Dec 21, 1968 - Apollo 8 was launched, and later her crewmembers became the first men to orbit the moon. Jul 20, 1969 - Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men on the moon. Apr 11, 1970 - Apollo 13 was launched. Sep 12, 1970 - The Soviet craft Luna 16 was launched and became the first automatic spacecraft to return soil samples of the moon. Dec 15, 1970 - The Soviet Venera 7 became the first probe to land on Venus. May 14, 1973 - The U.S. launched its first space station, Skylab. Sep 1, 1976 - The American probe Viking 2 discovered water frost on the Martian surface.