The Space Race By Chase Fenstermaker

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite. It successfully entered Earths orbit, this satellite entering space marked the beginning of the space age. It was launched by the Soviet Union. https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_924.html

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

This was the first satellite launched by the US. It was apart of the participation in the Geophysical year. This mission came after the Soviet Unions first 2 satellites. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/explorer-overview.html

Ham The Astrochimp

Jan 31, 1961

Ham was the first Non Human launched into space. He did his flight on the Mercuary Red Stone 2, as apart of the Mercury Mission. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/mercury-primate-capsule-and-ham-astrochimp

Yuri Gagarin

Apr 12, 1961

Yuri was a Soviet pilot who was the first human to go into space his ship Vostok 1 made 1 orbit around Earth. https://www.space.com/16159-first-man-in-space.html

Alan Shepard

May 17, 1961

Alan was the second man to go into outer space. He was the first ever American to go into space

Gemini 1

Apr 8, 1964

The Gemini 1 was the first test of NASAs Gemini project it was mainly a test flight to test out the new structure of the rocket and modify the Titan II launch vehicle https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-018A

Apollo 1

Feb 21, 1967

The Apollo 1 was the first crew mission of the Apollo missions it was planned to land the first man on the moon

Apollo 11

Jul 16, 1969

The Apollo 11 mission was the first space mission to land humans on the moon. The men who landed on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.