Gera & Baker Space Race

First American Satelite

Feb 1, 1958

The first American satelite in orbit around earth was Explorer I, it was launched by the army in Florida.

NASA is Born

Oct 1, 1958

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed, it replaces the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA).

First Satelite to Orbit the Sun

Jan 2, 1959

Russia launched Luna I which would be the first satelite to orbit the sun.

Moon Trajectory Miss

Mar 3, 1959

Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit.

First Man Made Object to Impact the Moon

Sep 12, 1959

The first man made object to impact the moon was Luna II made by Russia.

First Weather Satelite

Apr 1, 1960

American launched Tiros I which became the first weather satelite to be launched in earths orbit.

First Spy Satelite

Aug 18, 1960

The US launches Discoverer XIV, the first camera equipped spy satellite.

New President

Nov 8, 1961

The 35th president of the United States was John f. Kennedy hw was elected in the middle of the space race. He then took ove Eisenhowers spot as the, "CEO" of the space race.

Project Gemini

Dec 7, 1961

NASA announces the Gemini Project which is the second human spaceflight program.

Last American to Fly in Space Alone

May 15, 1963

L. Gordon Cooper spends 34 hours in space. He is the last American to fly in space alone.

Assasination of Kennedy

Nov 22, 1963

President John F. Kennedy was assasinated at 12:30 p.m. in Dallas, Texas

First Close Range Images of the Moon

Jul 31, 1964

America launched Ranger 7 which transimited the first close range images of the Moon

First Manned Gemini Spacecraft

Mar 23, 1965

Gus Grissom and John Young fly the first manned Gemini spacecraft.

America's First Spacewalk

Jun 3, 1965

Ed White performs America's first spacewalk for 20 minutes. Jim McDivitt remains in the Gemini capsule.

First Object to Impact Venus

Nov 16, 1965

Venus 3 is launched from Russia. It becomes the first man made object to impact Venus on March 1, 1966

First Soft Lunar Landing

Feb 3, 1966

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

First Satelite to Orbit the Moon

Apr 3, 1966

Luna 10 built by the Russians was the first satelite to orbit the moon.

First Picture of Earth From Around the Moon

Aug 16, 1966

Lunar Orbiter 1 enters orbit around the Moon and takes the first picture of the Earth from that distance.

Last Gemini Launch

Nov 11, 1966

Gemini 10, last flight of the Gemini Program, launches with James Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin aboard.

First Men to Touch the Moon

Jul 20, 1969

America sends Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on Apollo 11 to become the first men to walk on the Moon, while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone.