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Sputnik Launched
Sputnik was the first man made object to enter into space. It was created and launched by the Soviet Union and was an unmanned satelite. After this launch the Russians would dominate the space race for the its first five years. -
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Space Race Period
The Time Period of the Space Race -
First Animal in Space
On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union sent up the first animal into space. The first animal in space, a space dog named Laika, was sent up by the Russian made Sputnik II in order to see if organic life could survive the cold vacuum of space. However, Laika was also killed because the Soviets did not yet have the technology to bring the craft back to Earth. -
First US Attempt at Satelite Launch
On December 6, 1957, The United States of America attempted to launch their first orbital satelite named Vanguard TV3. The satelite launched off the pad successfully, but then soon began to plumet back to the pad causing a large explosion. The result was a damaged launch pad and a destroyed rocket. -
Nasa Formed and Established
On July 29, 1958, NASA was formed and replaced NACA ( National Aeronautics and Space Act). Nasa was the main leader in space exploration for America during the space race and still is today. -
First American Communications Satelite Launched
On December 18, 1958, the United States of America launched their first COMSAT( Communications Satelite). Named Project SCORE and was used to broadcast a Christmas message via short wave frequency from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower through an on-board tape recorder. This attracted the worlds attention by suprise. -
Nedelin Catastrophe
On October 14,1960, aproximately 150 Soviet military personel and technichans were killed when Marshal Mitrofan Nedelin ordered an improper launch of one of their prototype rockets exploded killing the marshal himeself. This catastrophe set back the USSR's progress in space greatly. -
First Man In Space
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet Union Cosmonaut who was the first man in space. He was also the first man to orbit the earth for 108 minutes and became an instant global celebrity as he safely landed back in Sibera, Russia. This event only drove the Americans to accelerate their own plans of space travel. -
Kennedy Launches Space Race
On 20 April 1961, President Kennedy officially announced the start of the Space Race between the Soviet Union and United States of America tor each the stars. -
Project Gemini
Project Gemini is officially launched in January of 1962 for the United States. The project focused on creating a two man space craft that will land on the moon for EVA activities instead of just walking on the moon. This project allowed for the US to catch up to the Russians in the Space Race. -
First Woman in Space
On June 16,1963 the Soviet Union sent up the first women and civilian into space using the space craft Vostok 6. Valentina Tereshkova, was one of the first and few women who were ever launched up into space in the USSR and were mainly used as propaganda tools for moral. -
US & USSR Joint Space Program Proposal
In September 20,1963 John F. Kennedy proposed a joint space effort between the United States and USSR tor each the moon and expand space exploration. However, the Russian Premier,Nikita Khrushchev, directly refused the offer. -
First Man to Walk in Space
Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov was a Russian Cosmonaut who was the first man to walk in space and nearly died trying. He walked outside of the capsule for 12 minutes before realizing that he could not physically get back into the shuttle and had to let air out of his suit to fit. Luckily, he barely made it back to Earth in one piece. -
Apollo 1 Disaster
On a routine launch pad test a fire broke out in the command module and the three crew members were killed due to suffication. Apollo 1 was the first scheduled manned space craft to the moon for the Americans and ended in disaster. -
Apollo 8 Mission
Apollo 8 was the first human spaceflight to leave Earth orbit; the first to be captured by and escape from the gravitational field of another celestial body; and the first crewed voyage to return to Earth from another celestial body aka the moon. Apollo 8 set the foundation for the Apollo 11 mission, in which they landed on the moon, -
Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
Apollo 11 was the first manned capsule to actually land on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr were the first men on the moon and conducted small experiments. This was a turning point in the Space Race as America began winning the long and dangerous race.
