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Sputnik 1
The Soviet satellite “Sputnik 1” is the first object sent into space and to successfully orbit the Earth -
Laika
a Soviet dog named Laika, is successfully sent into space for the first time -
Explorer 1
The first United States satellite to orbit the Earth – “Explorer 1” – is launched -
NASA
NASA is Formed -
First Space Mission
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person in space -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 crew member Neil Armstrong is the first man to walk on the moon. His fellow crew member Buzz Aldrin is right behind him, making him the second man to walk on the moon. -
Alen Shepard
Alan Shepard becomes the first United States citizen in space -
Voyager 2
Voyager II, the first space probe to fly by the four gas giant planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune – is launched. -
1st American Shuttle
The first American space shuttle is launched. This is the first “re-usable” space craft in history. -
Challenger
The space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after take-off, killing all of its crew members including the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe -
Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope is launched into orbit around the Earth -
Pathfinder
The un-manned American space probe “Pathfinder” lands on Mars and begins its successful exploration of the planet. -
John Glenn
Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first United States citizen to orbit the Earth -
International Space Station
Human habitation in the International Space Station begins. -
Columbia
The space shuttle Columbia explodes upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere
