Space Race

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

Radio signals sent the information that the Soviet Union could send warheads. It triggers the Space Race. (teacher.scholastic.com/space/spacefirsts)
(google images)

Sputnik 2; Laika

Nov 3, 1957

Laika lives for seven days in the ship, proving that animals can live and survive in space, maybe even humans can. (thespacerace.com)
(google images)

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

The Explorer 1 gets launched and gathers useful information and discover the Van Allen radiation belt. (thespacerace.com)
(google images)

Vostok 1; Yuri Gagarin

Apr 12, 1961

Yrui Gagarin is first human in space. Craft's controls were locked in case he behaved strangely. (thespacerace.com)
(google images)

President Kennedy's Speech

May 25, 1961

President John F. Kennedy gives speech to challenge the nation to go to the moon before the end of the decade. (thespacerace.com)
(google images)

Friendship 7; John Glenn

Feb 20, 1962

John Glenn orbits Earth three times, first American in space. (thespacerace.com)
(teacher.scholastic.com/space/spacefirsts)
(google images)

First Woman in Space; Valentina Tereshkova

Jun 16, 1963

Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova is the first woman in space. (teacher.scholastic.com/space/spacefirsts)
(thespacerace.com)
(google images)

Mariner 4

Nov 28, 1964

Mariner 4 sends back close range images of Mars. (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/missions/mariner3-4-index.html#.VfwNLt9VhHw)
(thespacerace.com) (google images)

First Spacewalk; Alexei Leonov

Mar 18, 1965

Alexei Leonov performs first spacewalk outside of his spacecraft for 12 minutes. (thespacerace.com)
(google images)

Surveyor 1

Jun 2, 1966

Surveyor 1 soft-lands on the moon. (thespacerace.com)
(googleimages)

First Men on Moon; Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin

Jul 20, 1969

Neil Armstron gand Buzz Aldrin are the first men to walk on the moon, and they plant an American flag.
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (thespacerace.com) (google images)