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First Man Made Sattelite Launched into Orbit
Sputnik 1 was launched by the USSR into orbit on October 4th, 1957 and was the first man made sattelite to reach space. It made one revolution around Earth every 90 minutes. -
First Animal in Space
Laika was a female dog and was the first ever animal in space. She was launched into space on Sputnik 2, but was believed to have died after liftoff due to high stress and G-force. It was nicknamed "Muttnik" by the Americans due to the animal onboard. -
First American Sattelilte Launched Into Orbit
Explorer 1 was the first American-made sattelite to reach space and orbit Earth. -
USA's First Satellite in Orbit
The Vanguard 1 was the USA's first satellite to reach orbit around Earth and continued to function for three years. -
NASA was Founded
NASA, which stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was founded and replaced NACA, which stands for the National Advisory Comitee on Aeronautics. -
Luna 1 Launched
Luna 1 (USSR) was the first man made object to orbit the Sun. -
President Kennedy Elected
On November 8th, 1960, president John F. Kennedy was elected for US president. He challenges the USA to beat the USSR in the Space Race. -
First Human in Space
The Vostok 1 carried Yuri Gagarin, a soviet astronaut into space. He was the first human ever to reach space. -
First American in Orbit
John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth in space. He orbited Earth three times. -
First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova, USSR, was the first ever woman in space. -
First Close Range Pictures of Mars
Ranger 7 (USA) got the first close range pictures of Mars. -
First Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov, USSR, was the first human to perform a spacewalk. He stayed a total of 12 minutes outside of his spacecraft. -
First Man Made Object to Reach Venus
Venus 3 (USSR Spacecraft) is launched. It was the first man made object to reach Venus. -
First Spacecraft on the Moon
Luna 9 (USSR) becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon. -
First Man Made Sattelite to Orbit the Moon
Luna 10 becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon. -
First Deaths in Space
During a test on the launchpad, a fire killed three Apollo astronauts were killed. -
First Fatal Space Mission
Soyuz 1 was a manned spacecraft holding Vladimir Komarov. It was the first of the Soyuz series. Upon its return to Earth, technical problems caused its crash and the death of Komarov. It was the first fatal space flight. -
First Man on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of the USA were the first men on the moon. -
First Space Station
The USSR launched Salyut 1, which was the first orbiting space station. -
First American Space Station
Skylab was America's first space station. The first three crews arrived 11 days later and stayed 28 days to make some necessary repairs.
