Space Race (Aerospace)

Sputnik (USSR)

Oct 4, 1957

USSR launches first satellite into space.

Sputnik 2 (USSR)

Nov 3, 1957

Sputnik 2 is launched by the USSR carrying a dog named Laika into space.

Explorer 1 (USA)

Jan 31, 1958

America's first satellite to reach orbit was the Explorer 1. It led to the discovery of the radiation belt by Van Allen.

Vanguard 1 (USA)

Mar 17, 1958

America created the Vanguard 1 satellite which was launched on this date. The satellite functioned until 1961.

NASA (USA)

Oct 1, 1958

NASA is formed which is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This replaced the old version called the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautic (NACA).

Pioneer 1 (USA)

Oct 11, 1958

Pionner 1 is launched from Earth reaching a height of 70,700 miles in the air.

Luna 1 (USSR)

Jan 2, 1959

The Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. This is the first ever man made object to orbit around the sun.

Luna 2 (USSR)

Sep 12, 1959

The Luna 2 is launched by the USSR. One day after launch is impacts the Moon, becoming the first manmade object to be on the moon.

Luna 3 (USSR)

Oct 4, 1959

The Luna 3 orbits the Moon and as it is orbiting it takes pictures of 70% of the surface of the moon.

Tiros 1 (USA)

Apr 1, 1960

The United States have a successful launch of Tiros 1, the first weather satellite.

Discoverer XIV (USA)

Aug 18, 1960

The United States Discoverer XIV satellite is launched. This is the first spy satellite with a camera.

JFK (USA)

Nov 8, 1960

The 35th President of the United States is elected. His name is John F. Kennedy.

First Man in Space (USSR)

Apr 12, 1961

A man from the USSR by the name of Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to be in space.

First American in Space (USA)

May 5, 1961

Alan B. Shepard follows Yuri Gagarin by being the first American ever in space.

Moon Challenge by JFK (USA)

May 25, 1961

The president of the time, JFK, addresses Congress and challenges the whole US to go to the moon before the end of the decade.

Space Day (USSR)

Aug 6, 1961

A man from the USSR named Gherman Titov spent a whole day in space on a craft named the Vostok 2.

Gemini Program (USA)

Dec 7, 1961

The Gemini Program is announced by NASA. The Gemini Prgram is that helps prepare astronauts for space.

3 time's the charm (USA)

Feb 20, 1962

John Glenn Orbits the Earth 3 times being the only one to do so at the time.

Importance of Moon (USA)

Sep 12, 1962

JFK gives a speech at Rice University stating that the Moon program is very importance.

6 times (USA)

Oct 3, 1962

Walter Schirra orbits the Earth 6 times for the United States.

First Woman (USSR)

Jun 16, 1963

The first woman ever in space was Valentina Tereshkova from the USSR.

Assassination (USA)

Nov 22, 1963

John F. Kennedy is assassinated while in Texas riding in his limo. (Was killed at grassy knoll which is the name of the street I live on)

Ranger 7 (USA)

Jul 31, 1964

The Ranger 7 sends the first close range pictures of the Moon back to Earth,

Spacewalk (USSR)

Mar 18, 1965

Alexei Leonov is the first person to perform a spacewalk. He spends a total of 12 minutes outside his craft.

Gemini Spacewalk (USA)

Mar 23, 1965

Jim McDivitt stays in the Gemini capsule as Ed White performs the United States first spacewalk. (Picture is Ed White)

Luna 9 (USSR)

Feb 3, 1966

The USSR's Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.

Lunar Orbiter 1 (USA)

Aug 14, 1966

The United State's Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first picture of earth from a distance.

Appollo 11 (USA)

Jul 21, 1969

This was the first time any humans had been on the moon. Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin land on the moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong becomes the first man to step foot on the moon on July 21.

Lunokhod 1 (USSR)

Nov 23, 1970

This was the first remote-controlled mobile vehicle on the moon.

ASTP (USA) Soyuz 19 (USSR)

Jul 15, 1975

This was the joining of the US and USSR space forces. It was a symbol of the goal both countries were going after.