Space shuttle launches

The Race to Space

By racetospace

  • Sputnik I

    Sputnik I
    Sputnik 1 In 1947 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik starting the great "Space Race". Sputnik was the first satellite launched into Earth's orbit.
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    Space Race

    The Space Race was a competition between the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States (US) for supremacy in space exploration. The Space Race took place during the Cold War.

  • Explorer I

    Explorer I
    Explorer 1 In retaliation to the Russian satellite, Sputnik I, America launched their own satellite called the Explorer I. It was the first of ninety different explorers.

  • Nasa Created

    Nasa Created
    Nasa CreatedIn 1958 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formed. The United Stated formed NASA in order to boost space research during the Space Race.

  • Discoverer XIV

    Discoverer XIV
    Discoverer XIVThe Discoverer XIV was the first satellite launched and retrieved by an aircraft that was flying within the Earth's Orbit. It was an American satellitle.

  • First Man in Space

    First Man in Space
    First Man in SpaceYuri Gagarin was the first man in space. He was sent by the Russians on the Vostok 1 space craft. He became the soviet hero and this advanced the Russians in the space race.

  • First American in Space

    First American in Space
    First American in spaceNot even a month after Yuri was sent to space in the Vostok I. The United States sent Alan Shepard into space. He was on board a tiny mercury capsule by the name of Freedom 7.

  • First Woman in Space

    First Woman in Space
    First woman in spaceValentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space sent by the Soviets on the Vostok 6 spacecraft. She was choosen to fly the spacecraft out of 400 other applicants.

  • First Walk in Space

    First Walk in Space
    First space walkAlexey Leonov was the first man out in actual space. He was outside the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds. Leonov's space suit bcame infalted when he was trying to get back into the spacecraft. He was able to let some air out and barley make it back.

  • First American Space Walk

    First American Space Walk
    First American space walkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0jpbOQpoOo
    On June 3, 1965 Edward H.White II became the first american to walk in space on the Gemini 4 mission.

  • Space Craft Luna 9

    Space Craft Luna 9
    Luna 9Luna 9 was the first space craft to have a soft luna landing. It was sent by the Russians. The spacecraft landed on oceanus procellarum. Luna 9 took pictures of the surface of the moon but these pictures werent immediately released.

  • First Fatal Flight

    First Fatal Flight
    First fatal space crashSoyuz 1 was a manned spacecraft holding Vladimir Komarov. It was the first of the Soyuz series. On its return back to Earth, technical problems caused a crash and the death of Vladimir. It was the first fatal space flight.

  • First Man on the Moon

    First Man on the Moon
    VideoFirst man on the moonApollo 11 was the first flight that took men to the moon and was a project of the United States. This was a great achievement because the US had reached the moon before the Soviets. The crew was Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin. Neil Armstong was the first man on the moon.

  • Return of Apollo 17

    Return of Apollo 17
    VideoReturn of Apollo 17Apollo 17 was the last or most recent moon landing by the United States. The crew consisted of Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt. The mission took about 12 days and no one has returned to the moon since.