Space Race Timeline

By eunice_11211

  • Sputnik 1

    Sputnik 1
    The Soviet Union launched Sputnik one on October 4 of 1957. It was the first in a series of satellites collectively known as the Sputnik program

  • Explorer 1

    Explorer 1
    It was the first American satellite to reach orbit that was launched. It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt.

  • Explorer 2

    Explorer 2
    Explorer 2 was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. However, it failed to reach the orbit.

  • John F. Kennedy

    John F. Kennedy
    John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th president of America.

  • John Glenn

    John Glenn
    Aboard on Friendship 7, John Glenn was the first man to orbit the planet. He orbited around 3 times. It was a watershed moment for the U.S. space program.

  • Mariner 2

    Mariner 2
    This was an American space probe to Venus. It was the first succesful spacecraft of the NASA Mariner program.

  • Luna 9

    Luna 9
    Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.

  • Apollo 17 returns

    Apollo 17 returns
    Eugene Cernan was the man who walked on the moon with Apollo 17.