The Space Race By sreinhardt Oct 4, 1957 Soviets launch Sputnik 1 Dec 6, 1957 US launches the Vanguard project Apr 12, 1961 Soviet Yuri Gagarin launched into space Apr 20, 1963 JFK proposes soviets to join race to the moon Jun 2, 1966 US & USSR agree to protect use of outerspace Jul 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong first man on the moon Jun 2, 1971 US & USSR came together