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The Great Space Race

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    the space race

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  • U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik

    U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik
    The U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. This prompts the U.S. into action.
  • First Animal in Space

    First Animal in Space
    The U.S.S.R. placed the first animal in a spacecraft, the dog Laika aboard Sputnik 2.
  • First U.S. Satellite Launched

    First U.S. Satellite Launched
    The first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, was launched. It was the first satellite to carry science instruments.
  • NASA is created

    NASA is created
    NASA is created
  • First Human in Orbit

    First Human in Orbit
    The U.S.S.R. launched the first human into orbit, Yuri Gagarin, on Vostok 1.
  • First American in Orbit

    First American in Orbit
    John Glenn, on Mercury-Atlas 6, became the first American in orbit.
  • First Woman in Space

    First Woman in Space
    Valentina Tereshkova from the U.S.S.R. became the first woman in space.
  • First Crewed Flight around the Moon

    First Crewed Flight around the Moon
    The first crewed flight around the Moon took place, with Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders on Apollo 8.. These astronauts took photos that were immensely helpful to the Apollo 11 landing preparation.
  • Moon Landing

    Moon Landing
    The first humans landed on the Moon: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 from the U.S. By landing on the moon, the United States effectively “won” the space race that had begun with Sputnik’s launch in 1957