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Sputnik I was the first artificial satellite to be sent into space by the USSR.
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Laika was the first animal to enter orbit, sent by the USSR aboard the Soviet Sputnik 2. Sadly, Laika died in re-entry because the technology for a safe entry wasn't made yet.
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Four months after the USSR sent Sputnik I into space, the US sent their own satellite into orbit, known simply as Explorer I.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, was created to respond to the USSR's Sputnik. With this, the Space Race began.
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Gordo was the first animal to be sent into space by the US. However, Gordo was lost in re entry when the parachute wouldn't open.
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Yuri was the first man to be sent into space by the USSR. In the process, he was also the first man to orbit around the Earth.
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Alan Shepard was the first man to be sent into space by the USA.This was done in one of the Freedom 7 capsules.
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During a historical speech before a congress meeting, he stated how NASA was going to get a man on the moon by the end of the decade, surprising NASA some.
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John Glenn was the first man to orbit around the Earth sent by the US.
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Alexei Leonov was the first man to do an EVA. He was sent by the USSR, and it only took 12 minutes and 9 seconds.
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Ed White was the first man to be sent by the US to do an EVA. This also allowed NASA to learn about astronauts being able to do stuff outside the ship.
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After Gemini VII was launched into orbit, it was able to stay in orbit for the next two weeks, showing that space crafts can stay in space for much longer.
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On this day, the Gemini VIII spacecraft successfully linked together with the Agena target vehicle, making them the first connecting spacecrafts in space.
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During a test for the Apollo missions, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee tragically died in a launch pad fire, engulfing them in flames.
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This space launch was the first to put a full crew into space.
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This spacecraft was the first to reach the moon, orbit around it, and take a photograph of the Earth from that distance.
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This spacecraft had the first manned test of the lunar ferry, which will help them land on the moon.
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This spacecraft was the final test before the landing on the moon took place.
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With this spacecraft, we were able to finally land on the moon, allowing humans to have their first steps on it as well.
