The Space Race

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

USSR launches the first satellite to be in space.Starts the Space Race.

Sputnik 2

Nov 3, 1957

Space RaceUSSR sends Laika the dog into space to prove animals can survive.With no way to bring her back to earth they had to gas her.

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

Space RaceFirst American satellite to enter space.

N.A.S.A.

Oct 1, 1958

U.S. creates The National Aeronautics and Space Administrations is created.Replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.

Vostok 1

Apr 12, 1961

Space RaceUSSR sends Yuri Gagarin into space, he becomes the first man in space, he orbits Earth once.

Freedom 7

May 5, 1961

Alan Shepard is the first american in space.15 years later he was the fifth man on the moon, and the first man to play golf on the moon.

Vostok 6

Jun 16, 1963

Space.comUSSR sends Valentina Tereshkova to space, she becomes the first woman in space, she orbits Earth 48 times.

Plane Crash

Mar 27, 1968

About.comUSSR's first man in space, Yuri Gagarin dies in a plane crash at thirty four years old.

Zond 5

Sep 15, 1968

Space RaceUSSR launched Zond carrying a biological payload including two turtles.

Apollo 11

Jul 15, 1969

Space RaceU.S. sends Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to land on the moon. Michael Collins stayed in the ship and orbited around the moon.