Cullins and Sears Space Race

Soviet Union launch Sputnik 1 (strat of the space race)

Oct 4, 1957

The first rocket to go into space and started the "Space Race".

Sputnik 2 (U.S.S.R)

Nov 3, 1957

Sputnik 2 launches Laika the dog into space, and she survives for seven days proving that humans can do it too.

USSR's first Rocket into to achieve orbit- Vostok 1

Apr 12, 1961

The Vostok 1 was the first rocket to achieve orbit around the Earth and was carrying Yuri Gagarin who was dubbed the first "cosmonaut".

The U.S. launched Freedom 7

May 5, 1961

3 weeks after Vostok 1 was launched, the U.S launched their first person into space (Alan Shephard), and although he did not achieve orbit he was the first person to exercise manual control over the rocket.

USSR launch Vostok 2

Aug 6, 1961

The first Soviet rocket in which the cosmonaut exercised manual control over the rocket.

U.S. launched Mercury-Atlas 6

Feb 20, 1962

The first rocket fired by the U.S to achieve orbit around the Earth.

Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 (Soviet Union)

Aug 11, 1962

FIrst rockets to be dual-piloted as well as coming 4 miles next to each other.

Kennedy's Speech "We Choose to go to the Moon"

Sep 12, 1962

Kennedy's speech stated his approval and guidance towards the Apollo program.

Vostok 6 (Soviet Union)

Jun 16, 1963

The first rocket to launch a woman (Valentina Tereshkova) into space.

U.S and U.S.S.R Join Forces to Reach the Moon

Sep 20, 1963

Kennedy proposed that the U.S and U.S.S.R join forces to reach the moon, but he was assasinated before they could comkplete the pact.

Voskhod 1 (Soviet Union)

Oct 12, 1964

The first rocket to launch three cosmonauts into space.

Gemini 3 (U.S.)

Mar 11, 1965

Gemini 3 was the first spacecraft where astronauts were able to change its orbit.

Voskhod 2

Mar 18, 1965

First rocket that allowed extravehicular activity (EVA), also known as a spacewalk

Gemini 5 (U.S.)

Aug 11, 1965

This rocket set a record of almost 8 whole days in space.

Gemini 6A and 7 (U.S.)

Dec 11, 1965

Gemini 6A and 7 achieved space rendezvous, which means they almost came at the same distance apart at orbit.

Gemini 8

Mar 11, 1966

Gemini 8 achieved the first docking between 2 space crafts, the other being an Agena target vehicle.

Gemini 11 (U.S.)

Sep 11, 1966

First rocket to achieve a direct-ascent rendezvous and reach an apsis of 742 miles.

Gemini 12

Nov 11, 1966

Gemini 12 was the first spacecraft where astronaut Buzz Aldrin proved that you can do productive tasks outside of the spacecraft.

First Deaths in Space (U.S)

Jan 27, 1967

Astronauts Virgil Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed on the Apollo 1 on the test launchpad. As well as the first Russian deaths in space, Vladimir Komarov

First Moon Landing (U.S)

Jul 20, 1969

The Apollo 11 lands on the moon and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are the first men on the moon.