Space Race

First satellite in space by USSR

Oct 4, 1957

The first satellite to be successfully launched into space was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. This success from the Soviet Union shocked many in the us including experts, especially those who were heavy invested in the US winning the space race.

First animal in space by USSR

Nov 3, 1957

Laika the space dog was the first animal to make orbit around the earth in november 1957.

First satellite in space by USA

Jan 31, 1958

The first US satellite to successfully complete orbit was the Explorer 1, this satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral and followed a looping path.

Creation of NASA

Jul 29, 1958

In 1958 President Eisenhower signed the National aeronautics and space acts which also birthed the creation of NASA.

First animal in space by USA (Ham the chimp)

Jan 31, 1961

In 1961 a chimp named Ham was launched into space becoming the first great ape to be launched into space.

First man in space by USA

May 5, 1961

Alan Shepard became the first us man on the moon, as well well the second man in space in 1961, via the Mercury spacecraft

JFK's speech and commitment to getting to the moon

May 25, 1961

Kennedy stood before congress and promised to the country that they would commit to getting a man on the moon before the end of the decade.

First man to orbit Earth by USA

Feb 20, 1962

In 1962 american astronaut john glenn made history by becoming the first american man to orbit earth.

First man to do an EVA by USSR

Mar 18, 1965

In 1965 the first EVA was performed by a soviet cosmonaut named Alexei Leonov, who ended up spending 12 minutes and 9 seconds outside his aircraft (Voskhod 2).

First man to do an EVA by USA

Jun 3, 1965

Ed White was the first american to complete a spacewalk in 1965.

First man in space by USSR

Mar 27, 1968

Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space via the soviet union and voyage of the Vostok 1.