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The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1.
The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. This was important because this event begain the space race. -
The Soviets launched Sputnik 2 into orbit.
The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 2, that carried a small dog, Laika, into orbit. -
The United States launched Explorer 1 into orbit.
The United States launched it's own artificial satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit and made their first move in the space race. -
The United States creates N.A.S.A..
Later in 1958, the United States, created a government agency in charge of it's space program, called N.A.S.A.. -
The first human in space.
In 1961 the Soviet Union launched the first human into space, Yuri Gagarian. This was a very important step in space history. -
Alan Shepherd is the first American in space.
Alan Shepherd became the first American in space in 1961, and the United States were leading the space race. -
John Glenn orbited the Earth three times.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth on the Friendship 7, in 1962. -
Many unpiloted spaecrafts were sent to explore the moon.
Begining in 1964, the United States and the Soviet Union sent many unpiloted spacecrafts to explore the moon an begain their fascination with the moon. -
First close range images of the moon.
Ranger 7 transmits the first close range images of the moon and the U.S. begains to explore the moon. -
Apollo 8 Launch.
The Apollo 8 astronauts became the first humans to orbit another world. -
The first men to walk the moon.
Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin become the first men to walk the moon and this is important because the United States won the space race.