The Space Race

The launch of Sputnik I

Oct 4, 1957

USSR launches Sputnik 1, man's first artificial satellite

The launch of Explorer I

Feb 1, 1958

USA launches Explorer 1, its first satellite. Discovers Van Allen radiation belts circling Earth

The launch of Luna 2

Sep 12, 1959

USSR's Luna 2 makes hard lunar landing

Luna 3 Photographs

Oct 7, 1959

USSR's Luna 3 takes pictures of dark side of moon

USSR's Vostok I

Apr 12, 1961

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is first man to orbit Earth

USA 's Friendship 7

Feb 20, 1962

American astronaut John Glenn orbits Earth

USA's Mariner 2

Aug 27, 1962

USA's Mariner 2 passes within 21,500 mi. of Venus

USSR's Voskhod 2

Mar 18, 1965

Soviet cosmonaut becomes first man to "walk" in space

USA's Mariner 4

Jul 14, 1965

USA's Mariner 4 takes first close-up photos of Mars

USSR's Luna 9

Jan 31, 1966

USSR's Luna 9 makes first soft landing on moon

USA's Surveyor I

May 30, 1966

USA's Surveyor 1 makes soft lunar landing

USA's Mariner 5

Jun 14, 1967

USA's Mariner 5 passes within 6,000 mi. of Venus

USA's Apollo 11

Jun 20, 1969

American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong is first man to walk on the moon, accompanied by Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr