The Space Race

The Space Race

Period: Jan 30, 1957 to Jan 30, 1969

Sputnik Launch!

Oct 4, 1957

October 4 - Sputnik gets launched into space, marking the beginnig of the Space Race.

The U.S. joins the race

Jan 31, 1958

Jan. 31 - Explorer 1, the first American satellite to reach orbit, is launched. It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt.

Luna 2

Sep 12, 1959

Sep. 12 - Luna 2 is launched. It impacts the Moon on September 13, becoming the first man-made object to do so.

First man in space!

Apr 12, 1961

Apr. 12 - Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space.

Orbit!

Feb 20, 1962

Feb. 20 - John Glenn orbits the Earth three times.

Gordon Cooper

May 15, 1963

May 15 - Gordon Cooper spends 34 hours in space. He is the last American to fly in space alone.

First spacewalk!

Jun 3, 1965

Jun. 3 - Ed White performs America's first spacewalk. Jim McDivitt remains in the Gemini capsule.

Moon Landing

Feb 3, 1966

Feb. 3 - Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.

Gemeni Broadcast

Jan 30, 1968

Dec. 21 - Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders begin the first manned journey from the Earth to the Moon. On Christmas Eve they take turns reading Genesis in a broadcast heard around the world.

Moonwalk

Jul 20, 1969

Jul. 20 - Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the Moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone.