Space Race Timeline

By Cricket Cowles
  • Laika Becomes the First Animal in Space

    Laika Becomes the First Animal in Space

    Laika the dog is sent into the Earth's orbit, making her the first animal in space. Unfortunately, she was not provided with a proper cooling system, causing her a great amount of stress. She died during the mission due to heat exhaustion.
    (Michael D'Antonio, 2007, 575)
  • First Artificial Satellite Launched into Space

    First Artificial Satellite Launched into Space

    Sputnik 1 was launched into space, making it the first artificial satellite launched into space. Americans feared that the Russian satellite would be used against them.
    (Homer Hickam, 1998, 571)
  • Yuri Gargarin Becomes the First Human in Space

    Yuri Gargarin Becomes the First Human in Space

    Yuri is sent into Earth's orbit, making him the first person in space. Later, during his return to earth, there was a malfunction causing a great amount of stress. Thankfully, Yuri made it out okay.
    (Francis French and Colin Burgess, 2007, 591)
  • Valentina Tereshkova Becomes the First Woman in Space

    Valentina Tereshkova Becomes the First Woman in Space

    Valentina is sent into the Earth's orbit, making her the first woman in space. The mission went well, and upon her return, fellow farmers and citizens in the area helped her and fed her. Unfortunately, this interfered with parts of the study, as she was supposed not to eat anything until they could assess any effects space had on her.
    (Francis French and Colin Burgess, 2007, 586)
  • Apollo 11 Ticker-Tape Parade

    Apollo 11 Ticker-Tape Parade

    There is an Apollo 11 ticker-tape parade in New York City with Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins.
    (Image 12, 590)
  • Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Man on the Moon

    Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Man on the Moon

    Apollo 11 landed on the moon, making its crew (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins) the first people on the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first to step out, making him the first man on the moon.
    (Andrew Smith, 2005, 599)
  • The President Delivers a Speech

    The President Delivers a Speech

    The president delivered a speech on the possible outcomes of the Apollo 11 mission, discussing what would happen in the event of a disaster, such as if the crew got stranded on the moon.
    (William Safire, 597)
  • Buzz Aldrin Speaks About the Apollo 11 Mission

    Buzz Aldrin Speaks About the Apollo 11 Mission

    Buzz Aldrin, one of the Apollo 11 crew members, talks about how the mission went, and the highs and lows that they experienced during the mission.
    (Marc Myers, 2013, 605)
  • Apollo 15 is Launched Into Space

    Apollo 15 is Launched Into Space

    The Apollo 15 was launched for the first ever J mission. The mission's focus was gathering moon samples and other data for research.
    (Image 18, 604)
  • First Fully Illuminated Colored Photo of Earth Taken

    First Fully Illuminated Colored Photo of Earth Taken

    The crew of Apollo 17 took the first colored picture of Earth from 28,000 miles away. The photo became known as "Blue Marble" and was seen as a reminder that all of Earth was united even is the middle of a war.
    (Carl Sagan, 1994, 621)