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  The Soviet Union successfully launches and recovers the first two dogs to go into space
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  Russia launches the first satellite into space. Called Sputnik 1, it was a 23-inch metal sphere into with a mass of 83.6 kilograms and was designed to determine the density of the upper atmosphere and return data.
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  The U.S. launches it's first satellite, Explorer I.
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  NASA becomes operational.
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  The Soviet Union launches the first object that successfully reaches the moons surface.
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  Yuri Alekseyvick Gagarin became the first human to enter space, when he completed one orbit in 108 minute space flight aboard Vostok 1.
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  The U.S. launches it's first manned spaceflight.
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  Kennedy announces the US goal of going to the moon.
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  US launches first manned spacecraft that sucessfully orbits the moon and returns to Earth
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  The US successfully lands the first man on the moon.