-
Launch of Sputnik I
Launch of Sputnik IThe launch of Sputnik I spurred the US to launch its own satelites and begin space exploration in ernest. It also marked the beginning of the competition between the US and USSR to have domination in space. -
USSR launches Sputnik 2 which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.
USSR launches Sputnik 2 which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.The USSR launch of sputnik 2 was the first country to send a living creature into space to see if any living creature could survive. Unfortunantly the dog didn't survive. -
Explorer 1, the first American satellite to reach orbit, is launched.
Explorer 1, the first Americansatellite to reach orbit, is launched.It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt. -
Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space.
Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space.Pushes America to send the first man to walk on the moon. -
President John F. Kennedy spoke before a special joint session of congress and challenged the country to safely send and return an American to the moon before the end of the decade.
President John F. Kennedy spoke before a special joint session of congress and challenged the country to safely send and return an American to the moon before the end of the decade.America wins the space race and sends the first person to walk on the moon. -
Saturn 1, the rocket for the Apollo missions, is tested for the first time.
Saturn 1, the rocket for the Apollo missions, is tested for the first time.This event lead to the Apollo missions which lead to the end of the space race and the first man to walk on the moon. -
John Glenn circles the Earth 3 times in 4 hours and 56 minutes. At age 77, John Glenn becomes the oldest person to fly in space, as part of the STS-95 space shuttle crew.
John Glenn circles the Earth 3 times in 4 hours and 56 minutes. At age 77, John Glenn becomes the oldest person to fly in space, as part of the STS-95 space shuttle crew.This helped lead to the first person to walk on the moon and end the space race. -
Soviets launch Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok 6. Her space craft comes within 3 miles of Valeri Bykovsky in Vostok 5.
Soviets launch Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok 6. Her space craft comes within 3 miles of Valeri Bykovsky in Vostok 5.
This is the first time 2 spacecrafts pass this close together while in orbit. -
The US announced plans to build the manned orbiting laboratory, a military space station designated for scientific research.
The US announced plans to build the manned orbiting laboratory, a military space station designated for scientific research.Helped enable astronaut spies to take better and more detailed photographs of the Soviet Union and its allies than ever before. -
The space race ended when Neil Armstrong and Edwin "buzz" Aldrin set foot on the moon.
The space race ended when Neil Armstrong and Edwin "buzz" Aldrin set foot on the moon.Ended the space race/cold war and helped lead to further space exploration and research to help discover possible life on other planets, not just the moon.