The History of the Space Race

By blackg80

  • Sputnik 1

    Sputnik 1
    The Soviet Union, USSR, launches the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. This is important because it started a race between the U.S. and the Soviets to explore space first. The Sputnik 1 was about the size of a beachball and orbited the Earth.
  • Period: to

    Space Race

  • Sputnik 2

    Sputnik 2
    The USSR launced another satellite, the Sputnik 2. This was important not only because the Soviets were beating the U.S. in the race, but because the satellite carried the first passenger into space, a small dog named Laika.

  • Explorer 1

    Explorer 1
    The U.S. launched their first satellite, Explorer 1, in response to the Soviets launching theirs. This event is important because the U.S. launced their very first satellite to try and catch up to the Soviets in the race.

  • NASA

    NASA
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, was formed. This is important because the U.S. now has a way to fight back and further improve their space exploration.

  • First Man in Space

    First Man in Space
    Yuri Gargin of the USSR flew into space and orbited the Earth once. This is important because the Soviets had now succesfully sent a man into space.

  • The Challenge

    The Challenge
    John F. Kennedy challenged the nation to go to the moon and back safely before the end of the decade. This is important because the U.S. now had a goal or deadline to work towards.

  • Second Man in Space

    Second Man in Space
    John Glenn orbited the Earth three times, two more than Yuri, and he was the first American in space.This is important because the U.S. were now tied with the Soviets in the space race.

  • First Woman in Space

    First Woman in Space
    Valentia Tereshkova, of the USSR, became the first woman in space. This is important because the USSR was now back in the lead with the first woman in space.

  • Apollo 1

    Apollo 1
    Ed White, Gus Grissom, and Foger Chaffe were killed in a fire on Apollo 1. This is important because three of America's astronauts died in a failed test run of Apollo 1.

  • One Small Step

    One Small Step
    Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first men to walk on the moon. This is important because it brought the race to a near end and marked a milestone in space exploration for the human race.