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Sputnik 1 launched. First man-made object in orbit.
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Explorer 1 launched. First American satellite in orbit.
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is founded.
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Vostok 1 launched. Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space.
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Mercury Freedom 7 is launched with the first American in orbit. John Glenn Jr.
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Vostok 6 safely carries Valentia Tereshkov to become the first woman in space.
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US Ranger 7 relays a series of close-range photos of the moon. showing it was possible to land on the Moon.
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Gemini 7 launched Frank Borman, James A. Lovell Jr. into orbit. Made 206 successful orbits around Earth.
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Soviet Soyuz 1 crashes, killing Vladimir Komarov. First Space Race fatality.
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Soviet Zond 5. First spacecraft to orbit moon and return.
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Apollo 8. first staffed spacecraft to orbit moon. Made 10 orbits on 6-day mission.
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Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jr. made first staffed soft landing on moon. they used th Apollo 11 spacecraft.