Time of Space Exploration - Amara Ramirez

First Satellite in Space

Oct 4, 1957

The first satellite, Sputnik, was launched into space by the Soviet Union.

First Human in Space

Apr 12, 1961

Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut, became the first human in space.

First American Astronaut in Space

May 5, 1961

Alan Shepard Jr. became the first American to be launched into space. He was launched on a flight that lasted 15 minutes, and 22 seconds.

First American Orbits Earth

Feb 20, 1962

John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth. He completed a total of three orbits.

First Woman in Space

Jun 16, 1963

Valentina Tereshkova, a cosmonaut, becomes the first woman in space. She completes a total of 48 orbits around the Earth.

Man's First Space Walk

Mar 18, 1965

Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov takes man's first space walk.

First Manned Spacecraft Orbits Moon

Dec 21, 1968

Apollo 8 becomes the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. It also comes with 70 miles of the lunar surface.

Man Walks on the Moon

Jul 20, 1969

Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin of the Apollo 11 spend 21 1/2 hours on the moon, and 2 1/2 of those hours were outside of the space capsule.

First U.S. Orbiting Laboratory Launched

May 14, 1973

The Skylab I becomes the first U.S. orbiting laboratory to be launched.

First American Woman in Space

Jun 18, 1983

Salle Ride becomes the first American woman in space.