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Space Race

By Kush P

  • Sputnik 1

    Americans who happened to be gazing at the stars on Friday, October 4, 1957, may have noticed an object crossing the evening sky. Radio listeners, too, may have heard “beep, beep, beep” coming from their radios. An important event had occurred in the Soviet Union. The Soviets had launched an artificial satellite into orbit around Earth. The satellite was named Sputnik, Russian for “traveling companion.” It sent the beeping radio signals as it orbited the globe. Sputnik: First Man-made Satellite

  • Sputnik 2

    Launched by the Soviet Union
    Sputnik 2 was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, on November 3, 1957
    The first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika, who died a few hours after the launch.

  • NASA

    Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958 and set aside money for science education.

  • The Explorer

    At last, on January 31, 1958, the United States succeeded in launching its first satellite, the Explorer. The Explorer was smaller than Sputnik.

  • New Pres.

    John F. Kennedy became president in 1961

  • First American to enter space

    Alan Shepard became the first American to enter space.

  • First human being to orbit the Earth.

    April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to orbit the Earth.

  • First American to orbit Earth.

    1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.

  • First Man On Moon

    In 1969, many thought of President Kennedy’s challenge when Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon. His famous quote is, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”