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Launching of Sputnik I
Sputnik was the first satellite launched into space. This piece of technology was put into space by the Russians. This also became the beginning of the Space Race that occured between the US and the Russians. This tool helped calculate the density of the atmosphere's layers. -
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Space Race
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Laika goes into space
The Russians decided to send an animal into space. Laika, a dog, became the first animal to be in space. This was a experiment by the Russians. Laika died in orbit, also making it the first animal to die in orbit. This brought the thought that humans wouldn't be able to survive in space. -
NASA is formed
The US created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the Space Race. NASA would continue space and space flight research. NASA also controls any sort of space interactions by the US. -
Photos from Earth from space.
The Explorer 6 was launched by the US. This spacecraft was designed to study various factors in space. It also tested a scanning device designed for taking pictures of the Earth's cloud cover. This spacecraft transmitted the first photos of Earth from orbit. -
Photos of far side of moon.
When the Russians sent Luna 3 into space, it was the first to take pictures of the far side of the moon (the side not ever seen from Earth). These pictures answered some questions. For example the pictures proved that there would not be satellite interference on that side of the moon. To this day there hasn't been any man on the far side of the moon. -
First man in space
Yuri Gargarin became the first man in space sent by the Russians. He was sent on the Vostok I space craft. This put the Russians ahead in the Space Race. Even though he was sent into space, he still wasn't able to reach the likes of the moon. So this still gave America an opening to win the Space Race. -
Alan Shepard goes into space.
Alan Shepard became the second person in space. Alan was the first American in space. His achievement brought excitement to the space program in America, and encouraged to continue the space race. This kept America in the Space Race. He later walked on the moon years later. -
First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to be sent into space by the Russians. She was picked from over 400 applicants to pilot Vostok 6 and was sent into space. On the three day mission it was observed how a female body would function in space. -
Luna 10 orbits the moon.
Luna 10 was also known as Lunik 10. Luna 10 became the first spacecraft the orbit the moon. This spacecraft completed its first obit around the moon in three hours. The Luna 10 was also the first satellite of the moon. This spacecraft was battery powered. -
Soyuz I fails.
Soyuz I was a Russian spacecraft manned by Vladamir Komarov. The mission plan involed a complicated task along its trip. It involved switching crew members on its way back to Earth. On the way back to Earth many mechanical problems occured. This led to the crash of Soyuz I. This marked the first In-flight death of any human in the space program. -
Yuri Gargarin dies
Yuri only participated in his first spaceflight when he became the first man in space. He was the back up to Soyuz I, but luckily he didn't become a victim of that flights fatal ending. Later Yuri became the director of the Cosmonaut Training Centre outside of Moscow. Then in 1968 he died in a training jet that he was piloting that crashed. -
Apollo 8
Apollo 8 was the second manned mission conducted by the US. It was the first flight that left the Earth's orbit. The spacecraft carried three men. These men were the first to see Earth as a whole and see the far side of the moon. This flight broadcasted recordings from space to the Earth. -
Soyuz 4 and 5 dock.
The Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 was one conjoined flight. It was a two manned flight. The ship finally docked in space. The ships remained connected for four hours and thirty-five minutes, while two cosmonauts emerged from Soyuz 5, performed a limited number of outside problems and entered Soyuz 4. -
First men on the moon
Apollo 11 took the first men to the moon. This was the fifth manned mission that was launched from Florida. When the flight landed on the moon the first men to walk on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin. Neil was the first man followed by Edwin. -
Apollo 17 returns from the moon
Apollo 17 was the eleventh manned mission from the US. Apollo 17 marked the 6th landing on the moon. Apollo 17 stayed in lunar orbit the longest. The mission took 12 days. And to this day has been the last flight that was sent to the moon.
