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First launch of a rocket-powered missile by Nazi Germany for military purposes. -
The USSR begins the space race by putting the first satellite into orbit -
The USSR launches Laika (a dog) into space in the Sputnik II. -
The USSR launches the first human into space, taking advantage in the space race. -
The USSR took a step towards equality by sending the first woman into space. The US took 20 years longer to send a woman into space. -
The US takes the lead in the space race for the first time, landing the first two humans on the lunar surface (Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin). Michael Collins remained on the Apollo 11 spacecraft.