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First satellite in space by USSR
The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik-1, the world's first artificial satellite. -
First animal in space by USSR
The dog Laika was aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 in space. -
First satellite in space by USA
The first satellite in space by the USA was Explorer 1. Explorer 1 carried scientific instruments that discovered the Van Allen radiation belts but no crew members. -
Creation of NASA
NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
First animal in space by USA (Ham the chimp)
A chimpanzee named Ham, into space aboard the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) spacecraft. -
First man in space by USSR
Yuri Gagarin piloted the Vostok 1 spacecraft. The spacecraft completed one orbit around Earth, lasting approximately 108 minutes. -
First man in space by USA
Alan Shepard piloted the Freedom 7 spacecraft as part of the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission. -
JFK's speech and commitment to getting to the moon
President John F. Kennedy pledged to land a astronaut on the Moon and return them safely. This speech led to the Apollo program, and astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins achieved this historic feat with the Apollo 11 mission -
First man to orbit Earth by USA
John Glenn was on the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. The spacecraft, Friendship 7, completed three orbits around Earth, lasting approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. -
First man to do an EVA by USSR
Alexei Leonov was the first person to spacewalk (EVA). During the Voskhod 2 mission, Leonov exited the spacecraft for about 12 minutes. -
First man to do an EVA by USA
Edward H. White II was the first American to spacewalk (EVA). During the Gemini 4 mission, White went outside the spacecraft for about 23 minutes. -
First rendezvous (Gemini VI-A with Gemini VII)
Gemini VI-A, piloted by Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford, achieved the first rendezvous in space with Gemini VII, piloted by Frank Borman and James A. Lovell. -
Original Gemini 9 Crew
The astronauts Elliott See and Charles Bassett lost their lives in a plane crash, while flying a T-38 Talon jet trainer in bad weather conditions. -
First docking of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft (Gemini VIII with Agena)
During the Gemini VIII mission, astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott were aboard Gemini VIII, and docked with an uncrewed Agena target vehicle. After docking, a thruster malfunction caused the spacecraft to spin uncontrollably. Armstrong and Scott safely disengaged from the Agena and the mission was cut short. -
First propulsion maneuver with docked Agena (Gemini X)
During the Gemini X mission, astronauts John Young and Michael Collins were the first to do a propulsion maneuver with a docked Agena target vehicle. After docking with the Agena, they used its propulsion system to achieve the first-ever orbit change. -
Apollo 1 crew
Three astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee died in a cabin fire during a pre-launch test at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34. -
Apollo 7
It was the first crewed flight in NASA's Apollo program, the crew consisted of astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walter Cunningham. -
Apollo 8
It was the first crewed spacecraft to successfully orbit the moon, the crew had the astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. -
Apollo 9
It was the third human spaceflight in NASA's Apollo program, the crew had the astronauts James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart. -
Apollo 10
It was the fourth human spaceflight in NASA Apollo program and the second to orbit the Moon, the crew had the astronauts Thomas Stafford, John Young, and Eugene Cernan. -
Apollo 11 (first human to walk on the Moon)
It was the first mission where a human walked on the Moon, the crew had the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.