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Launch of Sputnik I
The Launch of Sputnik I triggered the US to launch its own satellites into space and begin space exploration. It also marked the beginning of the competition between the US and the Soviet Union to have dominance in space. -
Launch of Explorer I
The Launch of Explorer I started the competition between the Soviets and the US because it was the first American satellite to reach orbit. -
NASA is Formed
National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA was launched and the US have a better chance of launching a human into space. -
John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th president of the United States.
John F. Kennedy is elected president and he encourages the United States to beat the Soviet Union in the Space Race by establishing an idea of landing on the moon. -
Yuri Gagarin orbits Earth once becomes first man into space.
Yuri Gagarin is not only the first man but the first Russian man to go to space. This sparks an idea on the US. -
NASA announces the Gemini Program.
The Gemini Program helped NASA get ready for the Apollo moon landings. They flew between the Mercury and Apollo Programs. -
First Deaths in Space
A fire killed the Apollo 1 astronauts and this really pushed NASA to do more research and redesign the Apollo spacecraft. -
The crew of Apollo 7 start a 10 day mission to study the new spacecraft.
The crew of Apollo 7 starting their 10 day mission to study the new space craft is a very big step for NASA after the Apollo 1 fire that killed 3 astronauts. -
Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders begin the first manned journey to the moon.
The three men that were on the Apollo 8 mission were important because they were the first humans to go to the moon and they were Americans. -
Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin become the first men to walk on the moon.
Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin walking on the moon is important because it means they have won the Space Race. They were the first men to walk on the moon.
