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The USSR launches Sputnik 1
It was the first man-made object to go into space. It remained in orbit until January 4, 1958. -
The launches Sputnik 2 with a dog as its passenger.
The dog, Laika, was the first animal to go into space. -
USA launches Explorer 1 into space.
This was the first U.S. satellite to reach orbit. It lifted off at Cape Canaveral. Explorer 1 carried a scientific experiment of James Van Allen and leads to the discovery of Earth's radiation belt. -
The U.S.A. launches Explorer 2 into space.
Explorer 2 failed to reach orbit. -
The U.S.A. launches Vanguard 1 into orbit.
It kept functioning for three years. -
The USSR launches Sputnik 3.
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N.A.S.A. is formed.
N.A.S.A. stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. -
The U.S.A. launches Pioneer 1 70,700 miles high.
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The USSR launches Luna 1.
Luna 1 was the first man-made object to orbit the sun. -
The U.S. launches Pioneer 4 to the moon.
It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit. Pioneer 4 was the first U.S. sun orbiter. -
The USSR launches Luna 2.
It impacts the moon on September 13, and became the first man-made object to impact the moon. -
The USSR launches Luna 3.
Luna 3 orbitted the moon and photographed 70% of its surface. -
The U.S. launches Tiros 1.
Tiros 1 was also the first successful weather satellite. -
The US launches Discoverer XIV.
Discoverer XIV is the U.S.'s first camera equipped spy satellite. -
The U.S. sends John Glenn on Friendship 7.
He was the first American in orbit. He actually orbitted the Earth three times. -
The USSR sends Turi Gagarin into space.
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space. -
Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space.
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The U.S. launches Mariner 2.
Mariner 2 flew past Venus and entered a solar orbit. -
The USSR sends the first woman into space.
Cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space. -
U.S.'s Ranger 7 transmits images of the moon.
Ranger 7 transmits the first close-up images of the Moon. -
USSR's man does the first spacewalk.
Cosmonaut Alexei A. Leonov goes outside of his spacecraft, therefore preforming the very first spacewalk. -
Ed White performs America's first spacewalk.
Ed White does America's first spacewalk. -
U.S.'s Mariner 4 gets close-up images of Mars.
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The USSR's Luna 9 soft-lands on the Moon.
Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to land on the Moon. -
The USSR's Luna 10 orbits the Moon.
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U.S.'s Lunar Orbiter 1 takes distant picture of the Earth.
The Lunar Orbiter 1 enters orbit and takes pictures of Earth. -
The USSR's Venera 4 transmits data about Venus.
Venera 4 transmitted data about the atmosphere and surrounding area around Venus. -
The USSR launches Zond 5.
Zond 5 went around the Moon and returned to Earth six days later. -
Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon.
Neil Armstrong became the very first man to walk on the Moon. He was on a U.S. spacescraft. -
Luna 17 lands on the moon with a robot.
Lunokhod 1 was the first robot to be on the Moon. Driven by a five-man team on earth, Lunokhod 1 traveled over surface for 11 days. -
USSR's Venera 7 landed on Venus.
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The U.S. launched Apollo 14.
Allan Shepard, who came on the Apollo 14 spacecraft, became the first man to hit a golfball on the moon. -
David Scott and James Irwin drove the first moon rover.
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Pioneer 10 traveled through the asteroid belt.
Pioneer 10 became the first man-made object to go through the asteroid belt. -
Pioneer 11 was launched.
It flew past Jupiter in 1974, and Saturn in 1979. It also discovered new rings on Saturn. -
The first military space station was launched.
USSR's Salyut 3 remained in orbit until February 2, 1977. -
USSR's Venera 9 & 10 sent pictures of Venus.
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Viking 2 landed on Mars.
Viking 2 also discovered water frost.