-
Yuri Gargarin Becomes the First Man in Space
Yuri Gargarin of the Soviet Union becomes the first man to enter space, and orbits the Earth once.(14) -
Alan B, Shepard Becomes the First American in Space
Shortly after the Soviets, NASA put Alan B. Shepard into space.(15) -
Moon Race Begins
On this day, President Kennedy put forth the challenge to reach the Moon by the end of the decade.(16)
NETS: K -
First Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov of the Soviet Union performs the first spacewalk.(17) -
America's First Spacewalk
Again, just behind th Soviets, American astronaut Ed White performs America's first spacewalk. (18) -
Moon Landing/End of the Space Race
Although President Kennedy wasn't alive to witness it, his goal of reaching the moon by the end of the decade was reached. Americans Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men on the moon, and effectively ended the Space Race.(19)
