-
First Satellite in Space
The first satellite, Sputnik, was launched into space by the Soviet Union. -
First Human in Space
Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut, became the first human in space. -
First American Astronaut in Space
Alan Shepard Jr. became the first American to be launched into space. He was launched on a flight that lasted 15 minutes, and 22 seconds. -
First American Orbits Earth
John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth. He completed a total of three orbits. -
First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova, a cosmonaut, becomes the first woman in space. She completes a total of 48 orbits around the Earth. -
Man's First Space Walk
Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov takes man's first space walk. -
First Manned Spacecraft Orbits Moon
Apollo 8 becomes the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. It also comes with 70 miles of the lunar surface. -
Man Walks on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin of the Apollo 11 spend 21 1/2 hours on the moon, and 2 1/2 of those hours were outside of the space capsule. -
First U.S. Orbiting Laboratory Launched
The Skylab I becomes the first U.S. orbiting laboratory to be launched. -
First American Woman in Space
Salle Ride becomes the first American woman in space.